Butler returns home to join football staff at Starkville Academy

DANNY P. SMITH

Brad Butler has returned home.

After a stint as the head football coach at Heritage Academy, Butler has rejoined the staff of the Starkville Academy Volunteers.

Butler, a graduate of Starkville Academy, becomes the defensive coordinator and strength coach for head coach Jeff Terrill and the Vols.

"He's just a super guy and someone who brings head coaching experience to our program," Terrill said. "We feel it's a great fit."

Butler has been glad to be a part of SA football in the past and is happy to be back.

"I was excited to graduate from here and had some great years coaching here previously," Butler said. "I'm glad to be with this staff and be back home.

"I'm ready to get to work. It's a privilege to work with this staff all of the way around."

In three years as the Heritage head coach from 2009-11, Butler had a record of 12-21. He was the offensive line coach for the Patriots in 2008 on the staff of Lee Davis.

Butler was the strength coach for the Dallas Desperadoes of the Arena Football League from February to July in 2008 and was a graduate assistant coach for Mississippi State in 2006-07.

He served as the defensive coordinator at Heritage in 2005 after coaching the offensive and defensive lines at Starkville Academy from 1998-2004.

Butler's father David has retired from active coaching, but still supports Vols athletics.

"He has a couple of grandkids in school here and he's still around coming to basketball games and football games," Brad Butler said. "He still considers himself a part of team."

Butler replaces Bubba Davis on the SA staff. Davis has taken a job as defensive line coach at Wayne County High School and he will continue to work with the Fellowship of Christian Athletes there. His wife Cathy has accepted the position of principal at Wayne County.