Space Coast Sports Hall of Fame’s Doug Butler is All-American, 8-Time Runner of the Year

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SPACE COAST DAILY TV: A 2012 Space Coast Sports Hall of Fame inductee, Doug Butler’s effect is far-reaching and his impact and influence as a role model, mentor and coach is considerable.

Editor’s Note: The above video and below profile were originally published in May 2012 and presented during Doug Butler’s induction into the Space Coast Sports Hall of Fame. He is now the cross county and track coach at Satellite High School.

DOUG BUTLER – 2012 INDUCTEE

• 8-Time Runner of the Year 

• NJCAA  All-American

• 14-Time State Champ Coach

LEADING BY EXAMPLE

BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA – Doug Butler never asked his runners at Holy Trinity to do anything he wouldn’t do.

It could be quarter-mile splits on the track or charging up the hills at High Point in Cocoa. That special rapport has helped Holy Trinity Episcopal Academy rack up six Class 1A state titles in girls cross country and three state runners-up spots under Butler.

The boys weren’t far behind with five Class 1A state cross country titles, a tie for another and three runners-up spots.

“It’s huge when the kids see that I’m willing to do whatever I ask them to do,’’ said Butler.

“It garners more respect when I say something than if someone 120 pounds overweight says something. I know what they have to go through.’’

In high school, Butler wrestled, played baseball and football, but was not a runner.

He started running recreationally and to keep in shape while in the Air Force stationed in Germany in 1983.

After his military stint in Germany, Butler was assigned to Patrick Air Force Base for a year between March of 1985 to March of 1986.

He already had fallen in love with Florida after a beach evangelical trip as a 16-year old.

The assignment at PAFB ensured that Butler eventually would return.

ALL-AMERICAN, 8-TIME RUNNER OF THE YEAR

Butler studied at Brevard Community College after leaving the Air Force and received his bachelor’s degree from Barry University and a master’s degree from Capella University.

He added the spark of competitiveness and drive for excellence to his passion for running and started his competitive amateur running career in 1986. Since then he has logged over 65,000 miles and hundreds of races.

He is a two-time National Junior College Athletic Association All-American in the marathon, finishing second in the nation in 1991. Butler has since completed over 20 marathons, with a personal best time of 2:25:57 in 1995.

His prowess as a marathoner, sparkling personal best times of 1:06:57 in the half-marathon, 30:54 in the 10K, 14:52 in the 5K, five Overall Male Track Shack Grand Prix championships and eight Space Coast Runner’s Male Runner of the Year awards put him into the Space Coast Runners Hall of Fame in 2001.

ROLE MODEL, MENTOR, COACH

Butler was inducted into the Space Coast Sports Hall of Fame for his accomplishments as an amateur runner.

However, with 11 Holy Trinity state team championships in cross country and three in track as the CC and track coach beginning in 2000, he is a very strong candidate to become a dual inductee in the coaching category in the future.

Butler’s influence is far-reaching and his impact and influence as a role model, mentor and coach is reflected by the success of another of the Space Coast Sports Hall of Fame inductee, Kayla Hale, who was a 5-time state Cross County and track champion at Holy Trinity.

THE 2020 SPACE COAST SPORTS HALL OF FAME Banquet and Induction Ceremony will take place at the Cocoa Beach Country Club on Friday, May 8.

FOR INFORMATION about the Space Coast Sports Hall of Fame call 321-615-8111 or e-mail Contact@SpaceCoastDaily.com

CLICK HERE TO SEE THE SPACE COAST SPORTS HALL OF FAME

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