West Chester University Athletics

The most decorated cross country and track & field head coach in school history, Bill Butler guided the Golden Rams harriers and track stars for two decades, compiling 10 Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference championships in his trophy case before stepping down in 1986. He started the women’s programs in the mid 1970s and mentored the ladies to much of the same success that he bestowed upon the men’s program throughout his coaching career.

A professor at the university during his coaching days, Butler authored a 176-70 (.715) combined record with the men’s and women’s cross country programs from 1966 until his retirement in 1986, winning four PSAC titles on the men’s side while capturing the school’s lone conference crown on the women’s side in 1982. Between 1979-85, West Chester’s women’s cross country team finished among the top ten at the NCAA Championships four times. On the track, Butler won two men’s titles and three women’s titles as well as three EAIAW finishes. Throughout his career, Butler tutored a plethora of All-Americans and individual conference champions.