Former Minnesota assistant coach chosen to manage same duties alongside Spurrier, USC staff
John Butler is South Carolina’s new special teams coordinator, the school announced Wednesday.
“We think John Butler is an excellent special teams coach,” USC coach Steve Spurrier said in a release. “He had good success at the University of Minnesota. Our coaching staff was impressed with his knowledge and with his eagerness to do the job here at South Carolina. We look forward to having him join our staff.”
Butler comes to USC from the National Football League’s Houston Texans, who are owned by USC alumnus Bob McNair. Butler joined the Texans two weeks ago as defensive assistant. He spent the previous four seasons as a linebackers coach and special teams coordinator at Minnesota.
Minnesota was solid on special teams in all four of Butler’s seasons in Minneapolis. The Golden Gophers especially excelled in the kick and punt return game, finishing in the top half of the Big Ten in both categories regularly. Those areas have been weaknesses for the Gamecocks recently. USC finished at the bottom of the SEC in both this season, coming in 11th in kick returns and last in punt returns.
“It’s a great opportunity to work for coach Spurrier, for the University of South Carolina and to coach in the best football conference in college football,” Butler said. “It will be a tremendous challenge for me — one that I embrace. I look forward to doing a great job with the kicking game at South Carolina.”
Butler coached special teams at Harvard from 2003 to 2006, coaching with current USC strength and conditioning coach Craig Fitzgerald from 2005 to 2006.
“John is an intense coach,” Fitzgerald told GoGamecocks.com. “Very smart, very well-prepared.”
Butler will replace Shane Beamer, who left USC earlier this month to take a job at his alma mater, Virginia Tech as an associate head coach responsible for running backs. Beamer was also the team’s recruiting coordinator. Those duties will now be assumed by wide receivers coach and passing game coordinator Steve Spurrier Jr.