Skip navigation
Favorites
Sign up to follow your favorites on all your devices.
Sign up

Butler removes head coach Chris Holtmann’s interim tag

Chattanooga v Butler

Getty Images

Getty Images

Less than two weeks before the start of practices in October Butler announced that head coach Brandon Miller would be taking an indefinite leave of absence for health reasons, with Chris Holtmann taking the reins as interim head coach. Holtmann, who joined Miller’s staff in June 2013, wasn’t taking the job lacking head coaching experience as he’d served as head coach at Gardner-Webb in the three seasons prior to his move to Indianapolis.

That, along with the return of versatile forward Roosevelt Jones, helped the Bulldogs get off to a 10-4 start that even saw them climb into the AP Top 25 for four weeks earlier in the year. Eventually a decision would be made on the status of both Holtmann and Miller, and on Friday in a move that didn’t come as a surprise it was announced that Holtmann’s interim tag has been removed and he’ll remain the team’s head coach.

According to Jeff Goodman of ESPN.com, Holtmann and the school have agreed to a multi-year contract that will undoubtedly help eliminate any possible “job security” questions that can spring up on the recruiting trail.

“I am honored to be named the Head Coach at Butler University and it is a real privilege to serve the University in this capacity,” Holtmann said in the release. “I would like to thank President (James) Danko and (athletic director) Barry Collier for their significant leadership and guidance during these last few months. I would also like to thank our staff and players for their incredible support and hard work. This is a special place and a program rich in tradition. We look forward to working extremely hard to make the Butler community proud in the coming years.

“We are grateful to Brandon for his leadership and he will always be an important part of Butler Basketball. He and his family remain in our program’s thoughts and prayers.”

Butler takes on No. 15 St. John’s Saturday in its second consecutive road game. The Bulldogs lost at No. 6 Villanova in their Big East opener on Wednesday.

Follow @raphiellej