Elite Runner and Coach Doug Butler Set to Be First Dual Inductee into Space Coast Sports Hall of Fame

Butler was inducted as an athlete in 2012 and will be inducted as a coach in 2020

SPACE COAST DAILY TV: Elite runner and coach Doug Butler is the first-ever two-time inductee into the Space Coast Hall of Fame – as an athlete and coach.

BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA – Doug Butler will be the first-ever two-time inductee into the Space Coast Hall of Fame on May 8 when the Class 0f 2020 is recognized during a ceremony at the Cocoa Beach Country Club.

Butler, 56, who currently serves as cross country and track and field coach at Satellite and previously held those roles at Holy Trinity, will be inducted as a coach after being inducted in 2012 for his accomplishments as an elite amateur runner.

“Kind of speechless. It’s a huge honor. I didn’t expect it,” Butler said. “…I’m very honored with all of the phenomenal people that are already in the Hall.”

Butler is one of the most decorated coaches in Brevard high school sports history, as he’s been at the helm of an incredible 17 state champion cross country teams and six track & field squads.

He’s also coached over 30 individual state champions and 65 runners that have gone on to compete at in college, Butler says. Included among them is Kayla Hale, who is another Hall of Fame inductee.

“Talent overcoming coaching,” said Butler on why he’s had so much success.

“I’ve had a lot of great kids over the years. I have a huge passion for running and track, cross country. I’m a hard worker. I was raised by two great parents that taught me the value of hard work. I’ve had kids from the very beginning that brought into the program.”

The word “culture” is a term used by Butler to describe what he has successfully brought to his teams as a coach.

“It’s not about motivating kids, it’s about building a culture and teaching discipline because motivation kind of comes and goes so if you teach them the discipline of just training every day and they want to be successful, kids wants to be successful,” Butler said.

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“You’ve just got to show the kids that you care about them regardless of them being successful or not and if they know that you’re a friend to them and you want them to be successful both on the track and off the track, they’re going to work hard,” Butler added.

Academics are also at the forefront of Butler’s mind, as he not only instills those virtues in the mindsets of his players but also as a teacher at Satellite, where he serves as a social studies instructor.

“Academics, that’s far more important than running because they’re going to be ladies and gentlemen their entire life,” Butler noted.

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There’s also very good news ahead for Scorpions fans, with Butler indicating that he’d like to continue his coaching career for at least several more years.

“This is my 20^th year coaching now,” Butler added.

“I plan at least the next five years to stay with it. I still have the love for the kids and the love for the sport of running so as long as I feel that I’m going to give them all I can and give them the same level that I have given for the past 20 years, then I’m going to stick with it.”

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

CLICK HERE TO SEE THE MEMBERS OF THE SPACE COAST SPORTS HALL OF FAME

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 2020 SPACE COAST SPORTS HALL OF FAME, call 321-323-4460 or 321-615-8111 or e-mail Contact@SpaceCoastDaily.com

CLICK HERE TO SEE MEMBERS OF THE SPACE COAST SPORTS HALL OF FAME

The Space Coast Sports Hall of Fame selection committee announced an impressive array of outstanding individuals to be inducted into the 2020 Class of the Hall of Fame.

The 2020 Space Coast Sports Hall of Fame Induction Banquet and Sports Awards will be held Friday, May 8 at the Cocoa Beach Country Club.

The festivities include a meet and greet with the area’s sports royalty beginning at 6 p.m., and the dinner and induction proceeding will start at 6:45 p.m. and includes compelling video tributes of each of the inductees.

The 2020 Space Coast Sports Hall of Fame induction event, and the 2020 High School Breakfast of Champions recognition awards, are sponsored by Health First, Erdman Automotive, All Points, Clear Choice Health Care, Savings Safari, Friday Night Locker Room and Rock Paper Simple.

The Space Coast Sports Hall of Fame includes an impressive array of outstanding individuals to be inducted into the 2020 Class of the Hall of Fame.

Dozens of nominees were considered in four categories including professional sports, college sports, high school sports and amateur sports.

Special honorary recognition will also be bestowed upon individuals and teams that have made significant contributions to sports on the Space Coast.

Space Coast Daily created the Space Coast Sports Hall of Fame in 2012 and has so far inducted more than 160 of Brevard County’s most outstanding athletes, coaches and sports personalities.

Serving on the committee are Space Coast Daily President & Publisher Tom Palermo, Vice President Giles Malone, Editor-in-Chief Dr. Jim Palermo, Managing Editor Zach Clark, the Friday Night Locker Room’s Steve Wilson and Orville Susong, former Health First COO Larry Garrison and Amateur Athletic Union Vice President Rusty Buchanan.

“The list of inductees for 2020 induction include athletes and coaches everybody knows – and some that may have been forgotten with the passing of time,” said Tom Palermo.

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

SPACE COAST DAILY TV: Tim Wakefield talks about his induction into the first class of the Space Coast Sports Hall of Fame.

SPACE COAST SPORTS HALL OF FAME CLASS OF 2020

• PROFESSIONAL CATEGORY INDUCTEES: Jamel Dean, Football; Hacksaw Jim Duggan, Wrestling; Chauncey Gardner-Johnson, Football; Mark Lake, Skateboarding; Juwaan Taylor, Football

• COLLEGE CATEGORY INDUCTEES: Derek Hamm, Football; Paulette King, Basketball; Dylan Lewis, Soccer; Melanie Murphy, Softball

• PREP CATEGORY INDUCTEES: Lexy Denaburg, Volleyball; Apryl Bigham Nickson, Swimming; Andi Sellers, Soccer

• AMATEUR/RECREATION CATEGORY INDUCTEE: Peter Blount, Track & Field; Karina Villegas, Sled Hockey; Caylor Williams, Wrestling

• COACHING CATEGORY INDUCTEES: Sean Ballard, Wrestling; Doug Butler, Cross County and Track; Aubin Goporo, Basketball; Gerald Hodgin, Football; Bill Sinclair, Softball; Don Smith, Basketball

• SPORTS DEVELOPMENT INDUCTEE: Loren McClanahan

• LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT INDUCTEE: Clint Hurdle

• SPORTS OFFICIAL INDUCTEES: Ted Ruta

• SPORTS JOURNALISM INDUCTEES: Steve Vaughn

• SPORTS AMBASSADOR AWARD INDUCTEE: Congressman Bill Posey

• CHALLENGER AWARDS INDUCTEES: Brevard Special Olympics

• TEAM OF THE YEAR: 2019 Satellite High Cross Country

• LEGACY CHAMPIONS: TBA

• SPECIAL TRIBUTE: TBA

CLICK HERE TO SEE THE MEMBERS OF THE SPACE COAST SPORTS HALL OF FAME

CLICK HERE FOR BREVARD COUNTY NEWS

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