Don Butcher, a native of Pikeville, Kentucky, began his coaching career in 1989 when he became an assistant coach at Cumberlands. His collegiate playing days were spent at Georgetown College. Twelve and a half years later, in November of 2000, he became the head coach of University of the Cumberlands. During his first year as head coach he was named Mid-South Conference Coach of the Year with a 21-13 record. In 2003, Coach Butcher was named Co-Coach of the Year. Coach Butcher’s career record now at Cumberlands is 205-87.

Coach Butcher came to Cumberlands because he felt it was, “A great place to work and a great place to be a student. Both the faculty and staff here want the students to succeed and you don’t find that at every school. It starts with Dr. Taylor’s commitment to athletic excellence and filters its way down to every person on campus. There is a proud tradition and they want to see it continue. All the coaches at Cumberlands should be grateful for the pledge of excellence the administration has made.”

Coach Butcher feels the best thing about being a coach is, “working with and helping to mold young men. Teaching them that it is okay to ‘keep on keeping on!’ by putting in an honest day’s work even when you may see very little benefits from that day’s work.” He admits that the worst thing about being a coach is, “Players graduate and I lose contact with them.” And the biggest disappointment is “every year we seem to lose our last game. I want one of my teams to be able to say they are the Champions!” Perhaps, most critical of himself, Coach Butcher says, “I’m not sure I’ve ever coached a good game. I am still trying to get one right.” Coach Butcher says his best advice to athletes is to “get your college degree. KNOWLEDGE IS POWER!!! Whatever you end up doing with your life, do it with pride.”

Coach Butcher resides in Williamsburg with his wife of eighteen years, Bonnie, and his two sons, Don Russell, Jr., 16, and Daniel Raymond, 15.

Phone: 606.539.4361
Email: don.butcher@ucumberlands.edu
View the Excellence Files

Mark begins his eighth year on the coaching sidelines having been a four-year veteran of the Patriot basketball squad.

Mark, a native of Williamsburg, was graduated in May 2002 with a BA in mathematics and business administration. He received NAIA Academic All-American honors twice and was three times named to the Mid-South Conference Academic team. He has been to the NAIA National Tournament seven times, in 2001 and 2002 as a player and in 2003, 2005, 2007, 2008, and 2009 as a coach.