Butler hires former player Ronald Nored as men's basketball coach
Butler hires former player Ronald Nored as men's basketball coach
Akeem Glaspie, Indianapolis StarWed, March 25, 2026 at 2:04 PM UTC
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Butler hires former player Ronald Nored as men's basketball coach
Butler named Ronald Nored as its next men's basketball coach Wednesday, March 25.
Nored, 36, will be the 25th coach in program history, replacing Thad Matta after his retirement following the 2025-26 season. Nored is first coach hired by athletic director Grant Leiendecker, a former Butler basketball player who took over for outgoing AD Barry Collier in December of 2024.
Nored told the Atlanta Hawks, where he was an assistant coach, Wednesday morning, Leiendecker sharing a photo of the moment on Twitter.
"The term ‘dream job’ doesn’t do justice to how I feel about the opportunity to lead the Butler program," Nored said in a release. "Butler is an incredibly special place. As a player, I poured blood, sweat and tears into this program. No one appreciates both the responsibility and the potential that comes with this position more than me. Passionate fans, Hinkle Fieldhouse, the Big East, storied tradition, a world-class education, a thriving city … there is incredible momentum at Butler right now and I can’t wait to hit the ground running as we elevate Butler to new heights."
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Nored emerged as a candidate to replace Matta due to his strong relationship with Leiendecker. Nored and Leiendecker played together at Butler for three seasons, including Butler's back-to-back national championship runner-up teams in 2010 and 2011. Of the potential coaching candidates, Nored was the only one without head-coaching experience at the college level, but his relationship with Leiendecker provides a level of familiarity and comfort for the AD.
“In a rapidly evolving college basketball landscape, our priority was identifying the absolute best leader to spearhead the future of Butler Basketball. Ronald Nored is that leader,” Leiendecker said.
“Ron is a relentless worker with an elite basketball IQ and a proven track record of developing talent at the highest level of basketball. He is the ultimate competitor, and he will cultivate that same quality within his team and staff. He is a gifted relationship builder who commands respect through his character and his craft. While he understands the soul of this university, we didn't hire him for his history here — we hired him for his vision of what we can become and how we will get there. His experience in the NBA provides us with a distinct competitive advantage as we navigate this new era of college basketball. He will attract an elite staff and student-athletes and build deep relationships within the Butler and Indianapolis communities. I have total confidence that Ron will put his own fingerprints on this program, set a new standard for our student-athletes, and elevate Butler Basketball to new heights.”
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Butler hires Ronald Nored as next men's basketball coach
Source: “AOL Sports”
