July 31, 2008

Notre Dame, Ind. - Kurt Butler, who has spent the past seven seasons as head coach of for the Notre Dame men's crew club team, has been named rigger for the Irish women's rowing program.

As the rigger Butler will be in charge of maintaining all equipment for the team and for the transportation of shells to competition sites.

"I am pleased to have Kurt join our rowing staff," head coach Martin Stone said. "The addition of his position to our program will only enhance the experience for our student-athletes. His area of expertise will be of great value to our entire team and staff."

While serving as the club crew coach, Butler also worked with the Western Reserve Rowing Association in Cleveland, Ohio 2001-05 and was the head coach for the recreational masters, novice and experienced junior program. He guided his competitive masters team to victories at Canadian Henley and Masters Nationals. Prior to coming to Notre Dame, Butler served as the assistant crew coach at Connecticut College for the 2000-01 season and was the crew coach at Oswego State University in the fall of 1998.

Butler began his coaching career in the fall of 1991 when he was appointed co-coach of the women's novice program at Marietta College. Four years later, he was named volunteer assistant coach at Purdue University for both the men's and women's teams, serving in that capacity from 1995-97. During his tenure with the Boilermaker program, he coached the women's varsity eight crews to second and third-place finishes at the Dad Vail Regatta and a second-place finish representing the United States in the International Invitational at the Henley Women's Regatta.

Butler earned his bachelor's of science in petroleum engineering from Marietta College in 1992 and later received his master's of science in management from Purdue University in '97.