Rutgers head coach Kristen Butler earned the 200th win of her career on Saturday in an 7-5 triumph over Illinois, a result that took an extra day to complete after the game was halted due to weather on Friday.
As the Scarlet Knights’ head coach celebrates her milestone victory, here are Five Fast Facts about her career.
1. She is in her fifth season as the Rutgers head coach.
Hired prior to the 2019 campaign, Butler has guided the Scarlet Knights ever since. Her tenure has included the pandemic-shortened 2020 season and the 2021 conference-only season.
2. Rutgers has made a pair of postseason appearances during her tenure.
In 2019 and 2022, the Scarlet Knights appeared in the National Invitational Softball Championship postseason tournament. The 2019 NISC berth was the program’s first postseason appearance since 1996.
3. She is nearing the 100 victories mark at Rutgers.
While Saturday’s win was the 200th of Butler’s career, it was the 96th win of her tenure in New Jersey. She won 104 games during her previous tenure as head coach at Toledo.
4. Her coaching career includes stints at five programs.
In addition to her time as head coach at Rutgers and Toledo, Butler also spent time as an assistant coach at Charleston Southern, Mississippi Valley State, and Florida.
5. She was the SEC Player of the Year during her playing career.
During her senior season at Florida in 2006, Butler was named the SEC Player of the Year. A four-year starter for the Gators, she also went onto a lengthy playing career in the professional ranks after her collegiate playing career ended.
