Randy Butler - Football Coach - Troy University Athletics

Randy Butler

Title:
Defensive Line
Email:
rbutler54553@troy.edu
Phone:
3331

Randy Butler begins his seventh season as an assistant coach on the Troy football staff and has 35 years of collegiate coaching experience under his belt.

Butler has continued Troy’s strong tradition of producing top-tier defensive ends that are now playing in the NFL. His latest product is former Trojan Jonathan Massaquoi, who was a fifth round draft pick by the Atlanta Falcons in the 2012 NFL Draft. During his time at Troy, Massaquoi was a two-time selection to the All-Sun Belt Team. In his two season as a starter, Massaquoi combined for 128 tackles, 31 tackles-for-loss, and 19.5 sacks.

Butler shifted his focus from the defensive ends to the entire defensive line prior to the 2012 season. Defensive end Tony Davis earned All-Sun Belt honors his final two seasons at Troy, including second team distinction in 2012.

Troy finished second in the Sun Belt with 26 sacks in 2013 and a pair of defensive linemen - Antonio Gillespie and Tyler Roberts - earned All-Sun Belt honors.

In 2008 and 2009, Butler guided the development of two defensive ends who spent the 2010 season in the NFL – Cameron Sheffield and Brandon Lang. Lang left Troy with the third-most tackles for loss in school history with 38 and tenth most sacks with 23.5. Sheffield finished his career ranked eighth in Troy history with 28.5 tackles-for-loss.

In 2010, Butler instructed two of the top defensive ends in the Sun Belt Conference, as each was honored at the conclusion of the season. The duo of Massaquoi and Mario Addison combined for 123 total tackles, while recorded 24 sacks and 36 tackles-for-loss. The duo wreaked havoc in opponents’ backfields all season, and even came up with seven quarterback hurries and four fumble recoveries throughout 2010.

Butler came to Troy from Southern Miss, where he spent 17 of his 35 seasons as a college coach in various roles. During his time at Southern Miss, Butler spent seven seasons coaching tight ends and 10 years coaching defensive linemen. He also spent seven seasons as the assistant head coach, and three as the recruiting coordinator for the Golden Eagles.

In his final three seasons at Southern Miss, Butler coached three-time All-Conference USA selection Shawn Nelson, who had the three best years ever by a tight end in school history. He registered 35 catches for 540 yards and five touchdowns as a freshman, 36 catches for 506 yards and three touchdowns as a sophomore and 33 catches for 455 yards and five touchdowns as a junior. He was named the New Orleans Bowl Most Valuable Player in 2005, posting six catches for 121 yards and two touchdowns. Butler also coached the tight end position at Southern Miss during the 1993 and 1994 seasons.

In 1994, he coached former Golden Eagle standout Terry Hardy, who was later drafted by the Arizona Cardinals in the fifth round and played several years in the National Football League.

In his nine years on the defensive side of the ball, Butler was an integral part of helping continue the tradition of Southern Miss defense. Butler’s development of defensive lines during his tenure at Southern Miss helped further the long-time defensive tradition at the school.

Butler spent the 2004 season retooling the defensive line after losing two standouts. The Golden Eagles finished 7-5 overall and defeated North Texas in the New Orleans Bowl. That year, the defense finished second in Conference USA in scoring defense and third in total defense.

He coached another defensive line in 2003 that helped the Golden Eagles win the Conference USA championship and a third trip to the Liberty Bowl. The defense finished 14th in the nation in scoring defense, 13th in pass efficiency defense and 23rd in total defense that season in winning the conference championship.

Butler graduated from Southern Miss in 1979 with his Bachelor’s Degree, and received his Master’s Degree in 1981. He was inducted into the Southern Miss Athletics Hall of Fame prior to the 1999 spring game. Butler entered the Wiregrass Athletic Hall of Fame in July 2008.

Butler is married to the former Angela Smith, who is also a Southern Miss graduate. The couple has two children, Anna Leigh and Chelsea. The couple also has one granddaughter, Ellie.