FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, 5-24-00
AASU Tabs Michael Butler To Coach Rejuvenated Men's Golf Program
SAVANNAH, Ga. – Armstrong Atlantic State University has named Southbridge Golf Club professional and Georgia School of Golf's Director of Instruction, Michael Butler, to serve as head coach of the Pirate men's golf program, athletic director Dr. Eddie Aenchbacher announced today.
Butler, a Savannah native and former NCAA Division II All-America golfer, becomes the first men's golf coach for AASU since the athletic department dropped the sport following the 1987-88 athletic year. The Pirates will begin play in late September of 2000 after a 13-year hiatus.
“I feel very excited to be starting the men's golf program from the ground level,” Butler said. “I look forward to the challenge of creating a strong team at Armstrong Atlantic State.”
Butler graduated from Benedictine Military School in 1989 and went on to enjoy a successful collegiate golf career, earning NJCAA All-America honors at Florida Community College at Jacksonville and competing for the U.S. in the 1990 World University Games in Montpelier, France. Continuing his career at Jacksonville State University, Butler was a two-time NCAA Division II All-America honoree for the Gamecocks.
“It seems appropriate that the person best qualified for the leadership position of our revived golf program should come from the golf-rich Savannah area,” Dr. Aenchbacher said. “Even better that the person have a reputation as a great collegiate player at the national and international levels.
“Add to that person the qualities of an expert teacher and the question arises, `how could we get so lucky?'” Dr. Aenchbacher added. “Mike has aspired to be a college coach for some time and we are glad the time was right for both of us. We are also extremely excited about the association with the Southbridge Golf Club.”
The Pirates will be the eighth school in the Peach Belt Athletic Conference to compete at the NCAA Division II level in men's golf. Two other PBAC schools sponsor men's golf at the Division I level – Augusta State and North Florida.
Georgia College & State University won the 2000 PBAC Golf Championship and three PBAC schools – GC&SU, Columbus State and USC Aiken – advanced to the NCAA Division II National Championships.
“Starting out initially in the Peach Belt, it will be a challenge to compete right away because we don't have a full year to recruit players,” Butler said. “Basically we have three months to recruit the players, bring them in as freshmen and juniors and get them to play well quickly.
“Having been there as a player, I know what they're going to be going through and what they're going to need,” Butler added. “Since I played at the NCAA Division II Nationals, I know the caliber of team we need to have at AASU to get there.”
The AASU golf program enjoyed much success in the late 1960s and 1970s when Armstrong State became a four-year institution. AASU Athletic Hall of Fame member Toby Browne led Armstrong to a NAIA National Championship berth in the 1967-68 season, where the Pirates finished 17th in the nation. Tom Carlyle, a two-time All-South Atlantic Conference golfer for the Pirates in 1974 and 1975, advanced to the NCAA Division II National Championships as an individual and finished 82nd.
The program was dropped after the 1978-79 season, then reinstated when Armstrong State joined the Big South Conference as a charter member after the 1983-84 season. The Pirates competed for three years in the Big South.
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Southbridge Golf Club General Manager Joe Rullan (left) looks on as new AASU head men's golf coach Michael Butler (middle) is introduced by AASU Athletic Director Dr. Eddie Aenchbacher. |
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Savannah Morning News columnist Tim Guidera (right) asks questions at the Wednesday, March 24 press conference introducing Mike Butler as AASU's new men's golf coach. |
Video Clips From Press Conference
