LaVall Jordan agrees to be Butler’s next coach
INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) – Butler has offered LaVall Jordan its head coaching job, the university’s basketball team announced Monday night.
“LaVall is a tremendous coach who exemplifies The Butler Way,” said athletics director Barry Collier in the announcement. “He has played a major role in successful programs that have competed at the highest levels. LaVall also has a deep appreciation for our university and this program, and will recruit and develop young men who will represent Butler well. We are thrilled to welcome LaVall, Destinee, and their three beautiful daughters back to Butler.”
Collier, as the team’s head coach in 1997, recruited Jordan to Butler. The Michigan native played at Butler from 1998-2001.
“This is a dream come true,” Jordan said in the announcement. “Butler is a place that means so much to me and my family, and I am honored and humbled to lead this storied program. I want to thank President (James) Danko and Barry Collier for the faith they have placed in me to continue The Butler Way and our great success.”
The former Butler star worked as an assistant Bulldog coach under Todd Lickliter for four seasons from 2003-07. He also made coaching stops at Iowa and Michigan. Jordan just wrapped up his first season as head coach at Milwaukee, going 11-24 and leading the Panthers to the Horizon League championship game.
Jordan and his wife, Destinee, have three daughters, Ava, Alanna and Adalynn.
A press conference to introduce Jordan is expected Wednesday.
Butler basketball tweeted shortly after 10 p.m. Monday:
Jordan replaces Chris Holtmann, who accepted the Ohio State head coach job last week.
Jordan is the first coach Butler has hired from another program since Barry Collier in 1989. Collier is now the Bulldogs’ athletic director. AP reported Jordan was a finalist for Butler’s job in 2013.