Butler Basketball Coaching Search Intensifies as Final Candidates Surface Butler University’s search for its next men’s basketball head coach has entered its second week without a clear resolution, as the school continues to evaluate potential candidates. Thad Matta’s abrupt resignation last month left the program without a leader, and with the coaching carousel in full motion across college basketball, the Bulldogs remain in the process of selecting their next head coach. According to a source close to the university, the search, led by athletic director Grant Leiendecker, is nearing its final stages, with a decision expected to be made by mid-to-late this week. Multiple names have emerged as serious contenders, though the process has been marked by uncertainty and competing interests. John Groce, the current head coach at Akron, has garnered support from at least one prominent figure within Butler’s inner circle. Groce, a Muncie native and former Butler assistant under Matta during the 2000-01 season, has a deep connection to the program. His coaching career includes stints at Xavier, Ohio State, and Akron, where he has compiled a 197-94 record in nine seasons. This season, Groce guided Akron to its third consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance, marking the program’s fourth such berth in five years. Ronald Nored, an assistant coach for the Atlanta Hawks, is another name under consideration. Nored’s relationship with Leiendecker, who played alongside him at Butler during the school’s back-to-back national championship runner-up campaigns in 2010 and 2011, is seen as a key factor in his favor. While Nored lacks head-coaching experience, his familiarity with the program and its culture could be a significant advantage for Leiendecker, who is navigating his first head-coaching search.#john_groce #grant_leiendecker #ronald_nored #butler_university #micah_shrewsberry
