Richard Shiro - AP
about 1 month ago: FILE - In this Nov. 26, 2011, file photo, South Carolina special teams coach John Butler, left, talks with head coach Steve Spurrier during an NCAA college football game against Clemson in Columbia, S.C. Butler, who is from Philadelphia, has decided to move back to his home state to join Penn State and the staff of new coach Bill O'Brien after a year with South Carolina. (AP Photo/ Richard Shiro, File)
Penn Staters rejoice! The Nittany Lions finally have a special teams coach. John Butler has joined the Penn State staff to coach defensive backs and special teams. This is a position that has needed to be addressed for the past several years as Penn State fans have tired of the infamous "designated fair catcher". Butler is a local guy, growing up in Oreland (outside of Philadelphia) and attending La Salle High School, though he did not attend Penn State.
Playing Experience. Butler played football at the Division III school Catholic University, but had no NFL experience.
Coaching Experience. Most recently, Butler coached special teams and outside linebackers at the University of South Carolina. Prior to taking the job with the Gamecocks, Butler coached the same positions under Tim Brewster at Minnesota (along with Ted Roof). Butler has also worked at Harvard, Texas State, Midwestern State and Texas.
Recruiting. Bill O'Brien has assigned Butler to recruit in the state of South Carolina. Butler was part of the group of coaches that visited Cam Williams and Armani Reeves last week to try and convince them to stay with Penn State. While that failed, hopefully he'll find success in South Carolina, where he spent the last year coaching.
Cupboards. Butler faces a tough challenge this year as the Penn State secondary has pretty much depleted thanks to graduation. This year's entire starting secondary (D'Anton Lynn, Chaz Powell, Drew Astorino and Nick Sukay) are being lost to graduation. Penn State still has Stephon Morris, Malcolm Willis and Adrian Amos, but Penn State is short in quality depth in the secondary (unless Derrick Thomas can straighten himself out). The loss of Armani Reeves to OSU/Michigan hurts as well.
0 recs | 83 comments
Is this seriously the picture you chose?
seriously?
PSUgirl - January 27, 2012
SBN has a relatively strict photo policy.
Kyle selected literally the only approved photo of John Butler.
Jeff Junstrom - January 27, 2012
so much tragedy in just one reply
I was, of course, joking because Coach Butler is the one staff choice (notwithstanding strength and conditioning) that truly fulfills our (me, myself and I) requirement that the new coach(es) be good looking.
PSUgirl - January 27, 2012
I figured that was the reason for the comment.
Wish we could cater more to our female fans, but like I said, our pictures are limited. Hopefully, for your sake, we get more pics of these guys.
Jeff Junstrom - January 27, 2012 via mobile
Coach Butler...
sounds hot?
BNittsDeMilo - January 27, 2012
Well, at least he knows how to tuck in his shirt
unlike the “Ole Ball Coach”
nuker77 - January 27, 2012
Ahhhhh
He rather resembles a grown up Bobby Brady, no?
Pentimental - January 27, 2012
was going to say no way
but now I kinda see it – and kinda hate you forever. But mostly no – I’m more in the Robert Taylor/young Roger Moore camp ;)
PSUgirl - January 27, 2012
This Robert Taylor?
I thought he was largely forgotten.
SubLime - January 27, 2012
you are correct
definition of dreamy. Watched a lot of old movies as a kid – a lot.
PSUgirl - January 27, 2012
Erroll Flynn fan?
Pete the Streak - January 27, 2012
Wasnt he a crazy skin hound?
Like, make Charlie Sheen blush caliber?
LoggingLion - January 27, 2012 via mobile
Hopeful....
I really wanted to give this guy a B but because of his lack of experience and the lack of proof that he can be an effective recruiter I’m left with the default C answer.
Positives I do want to specifically point out though are that he is a local guy, he’s young (hopefully ambitious) and from all the interviews of coach’s I saw he seemed to be the most enthused to be here. On multiple occassions I heard him call this the dream job which gets me excited about any coach as it does when recruits utter the words.
VinnyV11 - January 27, 2012
Watch the PSU video
it might be doublespeak – but he claims to be a lifelong PSU fan – and was a huge fan as a kid.
He’s been on the crew that has been out talking to all these kids this last 2 weeks – he’s been more places than South Carolina.
He was at usc with the new strength coach, Fitzgerald – assuming he had something to do with his hire (been hearing positive reactions from players).
Lots of unknowns – along with most of this crew
We’ll have to wait and see, but while we are, I’ll be watching Coach Butler.
PSUgirl - January 27, 2012
Seriously WATCH THE VIDEO
A lot of those B’s will switch to A’s afterwards. He is very articulate and clearly a big Penn State fan. He grew up dreaming of playing for Penn State and Paterno, just lacked the ability to do it, so we went to Catholic to play football (and hoops). This is the future of PSU’s defensive coaching.
He and his friends watched the 1986/87 Fiesta Bowl game so much in high school that the tape broke.
I was most impressed by him of all the new coaches aside from O’Brien. USC isn’t Happy Valley, but it’s not chop liver either. He made what’s pretty close to a lateral move because he loves Penn State. This is the best “get” of all the new assistants by far.
Here’s the video: http://www.gopsusports.com/blog/2012/01/video-exclusive-interview-with-assistant-coach-john-butler.html
spakajewia - January 27, 2012
Yea I saw that (Fiesta Bowl story) in one of the articles I was reading
Pretty cool. Glad he’s here.
Kyle_Martin - January 27, 2012
The best part of that is that we're going into South Carolina
ICEICETHATGUY13 - January 27, 2012
Any recruiting updates?
On 247 Sports, a poster is claiming that Skyler Mornhinweg has committed to play QB at Florida. So that opens up a scholarship. Who can we get to fill that? Quanzell Lambert? One of the Don Bosco Prep kids? Any updates on the players on our radar screen right now?
LionInTheWeeds - January 27, 2012
Second this
Would love to hear if any Rutgers recruits are in play now that Schiano left for the NFL.
stevea3 - January 27, 2012
Saw that.
But also saw it wasnt confirmed.
Jeff Junstrom - January 27, 2012 via mobile
And thus you remain a beacon of responsible reporting.
Thank you!
Succss With Honor Always - January 27, 2012
I read this as "you remain a bacon of responsible reporting"
The world would be a better place if journalists were half as delicious as bacon is, and we all should strive to be.
In other news, it’s lunch time.
dbl5030 - January 27, 2012
Homer says it best:
Succss With Honor Always - January 27, 2012
I read it that way too :)
BMAN13 - January 30, 2012
I want to comment on this hire
but as of this morning, I’m still all Phil Knight and Jay Paterno.
PSU Mudder - January 27, 2012
Honestly, I give the hire an 'A'
simply because we finally have a ST coach. That, in it of itself, makes him infinity times better than our last nonexistent ST coach.
cjapsu - January 27, 2012
For having coached at Texas State
He gets an A+!
PSUinTexas - January 27, 2012
Home of
the Armadillos?
PSU Mudder - January 27, 2012
Wildcats, I believe.
Pride of San Marcos (that and the miles of outlet malls).
cjapsu - January 27, 2012
Kathy Ireland was their kicker right?
The Heel - January 28, 2012
Btw
where do you get the “special teams” moniker? (wiki?) everything I’ve seen is “secondary” – which is plenty. Not saying it won’t be great to have some ST expertise – but he’s going to be a busy guy with safeties and dbacks.
PSUgirl - January 27, 2012
Yes,
last I saw he would only have the title of DBs coach, not ST.
PSUinBOSSton - January 27, 2012
Skyler Mornhinweg....
Gone. Commits to U of F
Dr.TobiasFunke - January 27, 2012
Doesn't surprise me...
I heard PSU wanted Skyler to play safety.
jetskijoe - January 27, 2012
Honestly, from film alone (not the best indicator, but all we've got)
Skyler didn’t seem to be quantifiably better than Bench. And it opens up another schollie.
DrewRusse - January 27, 2012
So..
you can play for a guy who has coached Tom Brady or you can play for Will Muschamp? He went to Florida for the girls.
Esteban d' Amur - January 27, 2012
This is an insult to PSU girls...
I prefer to think he went to Florida because the girls can walk around in turtle skirts and bikinis most of the year… but not because the girls are quantifiably hotter.
Said another way, he fell for the fancy, name-brand packaging on the same goods.
BNittsDeMilo - January 27, 2012
Sorry.
Top end is the same, but for sheer quantity, Florida wins.
mvrck - January 27, 2012
Right, it's a matter of depth
I’d put the hottest top 100 PSU girls vs the hottest 100 at UF any day of the week.
But when you get down the list to comparing #12,000 or so, there’s a marked difference
PSU Mudder - January 27, 2012
I gotta step in here.
Top 100 Florida vs top 100 PSU is no contest in favor of SECpeeeeed
maybe it’s just a personal preference for tan women
hbeach08 - January 27, 2012
Lots of girls tan at PSU
They just have to do it in tanning beds instead of out on the beaches.
And I’ll take the top 100 PSU girls over the top 100 Florida girls any day of the week and twice on Sundays. If only they’d have me.
psuphysicist - January 27, 2012
Woof
I hated (ok not really, but I’m trying to make a point here) the tanning bed girls when I was at PSU. Give me a natural tan over a fake one all day, errrrday.
LAPSU - January 27, 2012
I hated the ones that did it too much
But there were some attractive PSU girls with tans. And they didn’t get them by laying out in state college in january
psuphysicist - January 27, 2012
I do like my women
pasty white.
With bright red lipstick and whips.#12,000 or so? Scrapping the bottom of the barrel, no? I can’t please
onemore than 3 women, let alone 100, or 1,000. If you’re worried what number 12,000 looks like, you need to aim just a little higher. If your own looks don’t land you in the top 12,000, then you can take heart in the fact that women are a lot less superficial than men and worry about impressing her with your intelligence, sensitivity, and sincerity. Worrying about what the 12,000th girl looks like is sort of like arguing with a Temple* fan about whether our team is better than theirs. What is the point?*After the classless behavior I saw exhibited by many many Temple fans attending the game in Philly this year, it is safe to say they are BY FAR the least respected of the teams we play.
BNittsDeMilo - January 27, 2012
I like the southern accent myself
not the Tennessee draw, mind you, the real southern accent
nuker77 - January 27, 2012
I love a Texas accent
I thought long and hard about going to UT just to meet a little tan legged Texas girl that drank whiskey and rode horses.
Florida girls don’t have nice southern accents. You have to go to Georgia for that.
psuphysicist - January 27, 2012
Agree on that last point
nuker77 - January 27, 2012
Florida girls either speak spanish or sound like they are from Jersey.
mvrck - January 27, 2012
LOL
BMAN13 - January 30, 2012
Louisiana
I really want to meet the girl I spoke to from GE Transformers in Shreeveport, a couple times on the phone. She sounded absolutely beautiful. I have a picture in my head but more than likely will be disappointed.
BMAN13 - January 30, 2012
SEC peeeed?
Heh.
Pete the Streak - January 27, 2012
Some dudes are into that, don't judge.
WorldBFat - January 27, 2012
I don't like his dad either.
Ha ha ha.
FB6244 - January 27, 2012
Or his first name.
Bob Sacamano - January 27, 2012
Unconfirmed
Dr.TobiasFunke - January 27, 2012
C
Not enough information either way. Willing to be surprised.
M1EK - January 27, 2012
Schiano
Are we hearing anything credible about PSU picking up some Rutgers decommits?
NittanyBlueHen - January 27, 2012
Rutgers recruits are sticking it out...
I think that has been the initial response from key recruits… I guess we’ll see as each begins to receive phone calls from other schools.
PSU_Ovaltine68 - January 27, 2012 via mobile
If they do all stick together
i think that’s pretty awesome
Dr.TobiasFunke - January 27, 2012
I wouldn't mind if the Rutgers QB recruit looks...
at PSU. I like this kid Steven Bench… he might be something. However, having competition is not a bad thing if the staff declares 1 a winner and they aren’t constantly rotating them in and out.
PSU_Ovaltine68 - January 27, 2012 via mobile
Agree
As we go through the continuous stream of decommits, I can appreciate guys sticking to their word.
That being said, if we sense these guys starting to waver, especially these 4 star OLs they have, better us get them than other B1Gs that will be trying.
NittanyBlueHen - January 27, 2012
At least Urban should be running out of schollies to offer
nuker77 - January 27, 2012
Unfortunately,
Running out doesn’t stop him (or Saban, for that matter) from offering them.
Doboy36 - January 27, 2012
I know its crazy but...
I’d take a run at Brandon Arcidiacono. The guy is only a 2* recruit, but he’s pretty far down on their list and his brother plays for Penn State now. We need OL bodies and he may be able to fit that role for us. We also need another linebacker in this class. Have to find a diamond in the rough now.
LionInTheWeeds - January 27, 2012
Special Teams.
I don’t care one way or the other if we have a special teams coach. It’s not how you organize the staff, it’s the emphasis in practice and the players on the squads. A lot of people praise VA Tech for their ST play. They spread ST responsibility among multiple coaches, including Beamer.
CvilleLion - January 27, 2012
and in every big game..
their Special Teams suck.
Esteban d' Amur - January 27, 2012
Maybe, at least for some of the areas.
I’ve worked for companies that went through periods of under performing. None of them ever reorganized their way out of the problem. They changed personnel and they placed proper attention on deficient areas.
I’m not ready to declare imminent improvement to special teams just because we (might) have someone with Special Teams in his title.
CvilleLion - January 27, 2012
more a jab at Beamer Ball...
they aren’t as good on ST as their rep.
Esteban d' Amur - January 27, 2012
Ah, got it. I misunderstood.
CvilleLion - January 27, 2012
Special teams
I do think it’s a little funny that the article talks about how great it is to have a special teams coach and then not talk about special teams players in the “cupboard” section.
psfann - January 27, 2012
Well you don't really recruit players for STs
Nor does Penn State have a specific depth chart for them outside of P/K… that makes it a bit difficult to cover in that section
Kyle_Martin - January 27, 2012
Recruiting
seems like Penn St. is a late layer for 4 star safety Wayne Morgan. http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/high-school/erasmus-hall-football-star-wayne-morgan-courted-penn-state-article-1.1011369
wicker - January 27, 2012
*player
helpful if i could type
wicker - January 27, 2012
*playa
SubLime - January 27, 2012
Play on...
Bob Sacamano - January 27, 2012
Late layer?
TWSS.
Obligatory.
Pete the Streak - January 27, 2012
So with a Special Teams coach
Will we be able to keep Justin Brown out of harms way, or is he too good at PR/KR to NOT use?
LoggingLion - January 27, 2012 via mobile
I would rather him back there then Devon Smith
jetskijoe - January 27, 2012
I would like to see Amos back for PR
Though Brown was the only bright spot in the bowl game
nuker77 - January 27, 2012
yeah,
Moomoo is too little, although blisteringly fast…maybe Malik Golden will get some reps, along with Amos.
LoggingLion - January 27, 2012 via mobile
he's small
but reminds me of Brandon Banks some. Just because he’s tiny doesn’t mean he can’t have an impact as a returner.
Cari Greene - January 28, 2012
Which recruits are visiting this weekend?
Not sure when this info is available… I think DE-Evan Schwan, maybe DB and WR from GA and DB from NY are in SC… Anyone else?
PSU_Ovaltine68 - January 27, 2012 via mobile
YES!!!! We got the coach from Blue Mountain State!
BOBilicious - January 28, 2012
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