WEST LIBERTY, W.Va. – West Liberty University head coach Ben Howlett has added former WLU All-American Bryce Butler to his staff as an assistant coach with the Hilltoppers' nationally-ranked men's basketball program. Butler replaces Connor Harr, who was recently hired as player development/video coordinator with the NBA's Orlando Magic's G-League team in Osceola, Fla.
    "We are thrilled to welcome Bryce back to West Liberty," Howlett said. "This was an absolute no-brainer hire for us as Bryce had one of the most decorated careers in the history of West Liberty basketball."
    A 2-time NCAA Division II All-American and Atlantic Region Player of the Year, the 6-5 Butler was an unstoppable force during the 2022-23 season as the Black and Gold went 33-4 and advanced to the NCAA D2 national championship game. He scored double-figures in all 37 games and went for 20 or more points 26 times. At his best when the spotlight shone brightest, Butler had a 30-point night in the Atlantic Region final win over No. 3-ranked Indiana (Pa.) and a game-high 32 points in the hard-fought setback against unbeaten and No. 1-ranked Nova Southeastern in the national championship game.
    In addition to leading the nation with 829 points and a school-record 332 field goals, he ranked 19th nationally with 280 rebounds, 20th in field goal percentage (59.2%), 30th with 10 double-doubles and 39th with 134 assists. Butler finished his four seasons at WLU ranked 10th among the school's all-time scoring leaders with 1,913 points while leading the Hilltoppers to a sparkling 107-16 (.870) record.
    A first-team All-American and first-team Academic All-American, Butler repeated as the Mountain East Conference and Atlantic Region Player of the Year. He was also voted Most Valuable Player in the MEC Tournament after helping the Hilltoppers become the first MEC team to win back-to-back tourney titles. He was MVP of the Atlantic Region Tournament, as well, as West Liberty breezed to its seventh regional crown with three straight double-digit wins.
    After graduating from WLU, Butler played one season at NCAA Division I College of Charleston (S.C.) as a graduate transfer where he helped lead the Cougars to a Coastal Athletic Association championship and NCAA Tournament berth. Butler earned one CAA Player of the Week honor during the season and was selected as the 2024 CAA Sixth Man of the Year in post-season voting by the league coaches.
    "Bryce was a coach on the floor for us for four great seasons and now we get to have him back with us on the sidelines," Howlett said. "He probably knows our day-to-day operations and our system better than anyone who's played here and will be an invaluable asset to our program."
    Fresh off their NCAA Division II record 15^th consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance, the Hilltoppers will tip off the 2024-25 season at home on Nov. 8 when they host West Chester (Pa.) in the first game of the Atlantic Region Crossover Tournament.