November 21, 2025 • 41 mins
We sit down with Coach Tommy Butler to map the identity of Key West High School basketball—defense first, relentless pace, and a standard built on connection. Discussing feeder programs to family legacy on Bill Butler Court, the path back to district glory runs through toughness, shooting reps, and the community that shows up.
• team identity of pressure defense, rebounding, and transition
• renewed shooting focus and no-missed-layups standard
• home schedule highlights and revived rivalries
• seniors to watch and evolving roles
• coaching staff strengths and essential volunteers
• youth pipeline via Southernmost Ballers, PAL, Storm Surge, Salt Life, and HOB
• lessons from the 2012 run and college experience
• Butler family legacy and what Conch Pride means
• family support, traditions, and building lifelong connections
If you enjoyed this episode, drop a review, share, and subscribe because there's a lot of good stuff on tap. You can also follow Bring Joy on YouTube and Instagram, or check my website at joynulisch.com
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Joy Nulisch (00:39):
I'm a first generation connection.
What is it going to end up to?
A whole amount of conk prime.
And that's what this show isall about.
Celebrating the incrediblepeople of the E West and their
stories.
From every corner of our conkcommunity.
So sit back and relax, colors.
Let's do this thing.
This episode is sponsored byRamonas, promoting Kong Prime
(01:00):
since 1971.
How are we doing, Kong fans?
I got a good one for you today.
We're talking with TommyButler, a true conch and head
coach of the Kewest High Schoolbasketball program.
Welcome to the show, Coach.
Coach Butler (01:14):
How are you doing?
Thank you for having me.
Joy Nulisch (01:16):
I'm excited that we're finally able to talk.
Coach Butler (01:19):
Yeah.
Joy Nulisch (01:20):
And um, we're gonna get right into it.
What should Kunk fans expectthis season from the conk
basketball team?
Coach Butler (01:27):
Just a team that's connected.
Uh, we got a good group ofguys, so they really love
playing for each other.
Um it's a team like a unit, youknow.
Years past, you individuals,individuals have been really
trying to build a team.
So a team that's just connectedand uh they play hard, they
play for each other.
You know, we've just beeninstilling that into them.
So just a team that fightstogether, plays as a unit, plays
(01:49):
together.
Joy Nulisch (01:50):
I love that.
And I'll flip the questionaround what do you and the team
expect from Cong fans thisseason?
Coach Butler (01:57):
Just to show up, man, to support the boys, they
feed off of that energy.
Um, a lot of games last season,I think the crowd kind of
willed the boys to to playharder while they were tired or
fatigued.
It just makes them want to uhwant to give more and go harder
when they see their friends andfamily out there chairing them
all.
So just the support.
Joy Nulisch (02:15):
That sounds good.
I was able to go to one of thepreseason games, and I have to
tell you, I had the best timethat I've had in a long time.
The there was a lot of fans inthe stands, everybody was hyped,
and your boys were running thefloor from one end to the other.
I say it was tenacious defense,you know, putting the pressure
on the other team, making theshots.
Coach Butler (02:37):
Yeah, so uh high octane.
Um we run a lot of practice.
Um we go up, we get up anddown, you know, majority of
practice.
So uh when we get in the game,that's just what we want to do.
We want to uh you know pressurethe other team and try to get
them to turn the ball over andjust run the floor and make it
easy on us.
Uh, you know, not too muchoffense.
I mean, when we need to, we'llget there, but we try to defend,
(03:00):
uh, you know, rebound and runthe floor, you know, make shots,
layups.
But yeah, that's the stuff.
That's our identity this year.
Joy Nulisch (03:08):
The the fundamentals, right?
Coach Butler (03:10):
Right.
Yes, ma'am.
Joy Nulisch (03:11):
And I have to say I appreciate, I don't think
anybody missed the layup.
And I remember years past, hegot it wide open, and you know,
they they missed the layup.
So I I appreciated the factthat they was hitting the
layups, the little shortjumpers, and it was plenty of
three-pointers, too, to bringthe crowd to the feet.
Coach Butler (03:30):
For sure.
I know, I know that um, youknow, again, years past, man, we
struggle with shooting, man.
So uh again, it's anotheremphasis of the other program
this year.
The boys kind of voiced it tome over the summer after last
year, like, coach, we need toshoot more.
We need to put up more shots.
So I kind of you know heard himout, listen to him.
So now we we put up a ton ofshots in practice.
(03:50):
So it showed that that nightthey they really put the ball in
the basket.
You know, layups, that'sunacceptable.
We don't miss layups.
The boys know you come topractice, you miss a layup,
push-ups, sprints.
So we just try to drill it inthe hair.
You know, we got to get theopen layups for sure.
Joy Nulisch (04:06):
I love that.
I'm not a basketballaficionado, but I definitely
noticed those little things.
And like I said, I had a greattime out at the basketball game,
and I plan on being there asmany games as possible.
But speaking of that, I waslooking at the schedule, and I
believe we have 10 home gamesthis year.
Coach Butler (04:24):
Yes, 10.
Yes.
There was there was a mistakeon the schedule too.
December, I don't know ifyou're yeah, you probably the
schedule that I put out, therewas a mistake on there.
Uh December 6th, we play, uh,it was a Saturday, it's a
Saturday.
We play uh pace.
It says away on the schedule,but it's really home.
So there was just a littlemistake on the schedule.
So I don't know if you were ifyou knew that already, but maybe
(04:47):
we have 11 home games.
But yeah, December 6th,Monsignor Pace, that is a home
game, but that's not an awaygame.
Joy Nulisch (04:56):
Okay.
And I circled that one becauseI don't know about this
generation of conks, but backwhen I was growing up and the
years after, there's no room forpace on this island.
We that's that's a rival.
Is that is that still existing?
Coach Butler (05:10):
That's a historic rival.
I mean, we haven't played them.
The intensity of the robberyhas definitely died down.
We haven't played them in awhile.
But I still remember as a kid,you know.
I remember growing up, youknow, watching my older
brothers, my older cousins, andall the older guys, you know,
that old that old 102 run, uh,we had to be pace at pace.
I remember being able to getout of school to come attend all
(05:32):
those games.
So I remember the the traditionand the history behind the pace
rivalry for sure.
So when I do schedule them, youknow, it's in my mind for sure.
I think about it.
Joy Nulisch (05:41):
Well, that's that's good stuff.
And I see Marathon is also onthe schedule.
It's always good to play one ofthe keys rival teams as well.
Coach Butler (05:49):
Yeah, yeah.
I got marathon twice.
Uh Coach Murphy is a greatcoach.
He's also running a greatprogram over there.
Um, I love Coach Murphy, man.
So yeah, we're gonna get themtwice.
And uh they actually beat uslast year, man, in Marathon.
So, you know, a little uh, youknow.
Joy Nulisch (06:04):
That's good.
That's good.
It keeps everybody on theirtoes.
Coach Butler (06:06):
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
They have a great, they got agreat program over there.
They're building up realstrong.
They got some strong playersright now.
Real competitive.
It's no more, you know, Kiwa isjust gonna stomp Marathon.
They're they're competitive,they're competing now.
Yeah, we have them homing awaythis year.
And again, it should be itshould be a good show.
Joy Nulisch (06:23):
Sounds good.
So when you confirmed that youwould be on the podcast, I put
out a promo on social media andI asked the listeners if they
had any questions for you.
Coach Butler (06:33):
Yeah, I saw that.
I saw that.
Joy Nulisch (06:34):
Um, I don't know if you saw athletic director
Andrew Freeman.
He wants to know if you'regonna be rocking the suit and
tie this season.
Coach Butler (06:42):
So, um, what's that about?
The kids uh the kids asked meum about that as well.
They asked me if I was gonna uhthey ever gonna see me in a
suit and tie.
So it's a thing, you know.
Andrew's another one.
He wants to, I don't know, hewants me to dress up.
I told the kids that, you know,senior night, you know, coach
is gonna get I'm gonna get I'mgonna get fly for him.
(07:04):
So senior night, we playWestminster uh January 16th at
home.
I'll be I'll be in I'll bedapper.
Joy Nulisch (07:13):
That sounds good.
I'll I'll be there for sure.
And um I believe you and Andrewgraduated class of 2012
together.
Coach Butler (07:20):
Yeah, I think I I think I don't know if Andrew was
2012.
He might have been 13, likeright after, but fairly close.
We went to school together forsure.
Andrew Andrew is uh he's atremendous AD for sure.
He helps me out.
Um he's a tremendous guy.
Great to have him.
Joy Nulisch (07:36):
So you're in your second year as the head coach.
Coach Butler (07:40):
Yes.
Joy Nulisch (07:40):
What is something you learned last year that
you're glad you know now cominginto this second season?
Coach Butler (07:46):
Um, just patience.
Um, I think that I wantedeverything to work out my first
year, like right then.
I wanted to just get the joband just get them going and just
be like, all right, we're good,we're ready to compete.
Uh state championship.
And I had to, you know, realitycheck.
Like we went 9 and 12 lastyear.
You know, I had a main, a mainguy go down with injuries, and
(08:08):
it's just dealing with a lot ofthings that you have to also be
ready for.
Um, so I think just learninghow to be patient and just uh
enjoy the grind and reallyembrace the grind of it, and
kind of not looking at theoutcome of games and wins and
losses, but just trying todevelop the kids and to be the
best version of themselves, likeon and off the court.
So yeah, just patience andletting it all letting it all
(08:31):
settle in and understanding thatit might take a couple years,
you know, a couple years toreally reach that for it to set
in and get to that level that wewant to get to.
So yeah, I would say that.
Joy Nulisch (08:40):
I love the expectation and and raising the
standards.
I love the fact that you saidthat the players came to you and
say, hey, you know, we want toshoot the ball.
We we know we're looking forimprovement.
So they they want to win,they're ready to win.
Also, you've got some seniorson the team, quite a few
seniors.
James Osborne for sure.
Coach Butler (09:02):
Uh Osborne's a good Oscar.
Joy Nulisch (09:05):
He's he slammed one.
He he had a slam dunk the otherweekend.
Coach Butler (09:09):
Yeah, he slammed it.
Should be getting the screen alittle harder, but I'll give it
that one.
He got he got it.
Joy Nulisch (09:15):
I love to watch him play.
You know, he comes from a lineof basketball players.
His daddy could play.
And uh, who are some of theother uh seniors that you're
looking and having expectationsfor this year?
Coach Butler (09:30):
Zachary Levering, uh, another one.
I've been around him since hewas a freshman, now four years.
Another one, big, 6'6, solidguy, great kid, great in school
academically.
He's everything you would want,the kid, coachable, respectful,
you know, and just looking forhim to have a big season too.
I think that he can he has alot that he can offer and
provide for the team.
So I think that he's gonna stepinto a to his largest role.
(09:53):
You know, he's never been, youknow, someone that had a huge
role.
I think this year is his firstyear where I feel like I expect,
and he expects out of himselfto have like a large role on the
team.
So Zach, uh Jackson Cabrera,another good, another good kid,
great kid.
Um, worked really hard.
You know, first couple years Ihad him, didn't really have the
confidence, didn't want to shootthe ball.
(10:13):
Uh, and then last year he justkind of broke open.
Had dealt with a coupleinjuries his sophomore year, he
injured his leg really bad.
So his junior year was like hisbreakout year last year.
And he he was my most improvedplayer and um provides a lot for
us on the defensive end.
He's real uh, you know,aggressive, and you can see if
you were at the preseason game.
He's in your face all game.
Um and he's starting to getmore confident with his offense
(10:34):
too.
So we we need that.
Alex Means, another anothergood kid.
Alex Means actually almostdidn't make the team, but he,
you know, we fought his way backand got back in the program,
and he's doing really good.
Um, real excited about him aswell.
He provides us with a sparkthat, you know, scoring-wise,
that we need an experience thatwe need on the floor.
Um, Connor Freeman is anothersenior.
(10:56):
Again, a great kid.
Um, doesn't really play thatmuch, but he doesn't care.
He just wants to be with histeam.
He gives it all.
When I do put him in the game,he's gonna give it 100%.
And I love that about him, andthat's why I always pick him to
play for me.
Um, you know, but uh those aresome of the top guys.
Sanatillo, another guy who kindof hasn't been around too much.
He had a really good freshmanand sophomore year on JV.
(11:18):
And then his junior year, hekind of got away from it a
little bit.
And now it's his senior year,he's back, but he's still trying
to get into the groove.
Same as Kaihan.
Kyan is uh a huge force.
I mean, he's comes off thebench, he's strong, he's uh he's
athletic.
Um he's he's fast.
He he just provides us with uhyou know that strong force that
we need.
So again, we got a good groupof seniors, good group of guys.
(11:40):
Um I'm pretty sharp for guylike one or two, or but I mean
that's those are the most, thoseare the those guys that are uh
you know in the rotation activenow.
Joy Nulisch (11:49):
That sounds good.
And look, let's just do this.
Let's say that this won't bethis is the first episode we do
together, but it won't be thelast.
You win district championships,we get we get into the
playoffs, and we'll do anotherepisode.
We can talk about all theplayers.
Coach Butler (12:02):
Sure, yeah, we're gonna do that.
Joy Nulisch (12:03):
Let's give a shout out to the coaches too, because
I know you got uh a staff aroundyou.
So who are some of the coachesthat are helping out?
Coach Butler (12:10):
Uh I have coach Tony McDowell.
Um great guy.
Um, I mean, he coached me allmy life, you know, growing up.
So he's my head, he's my JVcoach.
He's in charge of the JV.
So he is, again, another greatguy that I love to have around.
He's a great disciplinarian.
Um he's uh very, very good withthe kids as far as in
(12:31):
discipline, keeping them sharpgrades, you know, attendance and
stuff like that.
We just love having them aroundthe guys.
Coach Bernard is my assistant.
Bernard Simmons, he's beenaround the program again since
I've been there managing.
He's done it all.
Like when I was there inschool, he was my manager.
He was he was everything forme, you know?
And um now he's taking on alarger role in being my lead
(12:54):
assistant of the program, and hejust keeps me on my toes.
He's honest.
Um, you know, he's he's not ayes man.
He'll tell me, hey, coach, youwere wrong.
You know, so I need that aroundme.
He's good for that.
Um, Coach Herschel Major, um,again, another good guy, um,
just a great role model to havearound the kids.
Um he also runs um a programover the summer that kind of
(13:17):
directly links into what we gotgoing on with the high school.
So the kids are gettingdeveloped year-round with his
program, Southernmost Ballers.
So he it's great to have himaround.
And then a new face that a lotof a lot of uh people in the
city don't know is uh DeQuandreMcNeil.
Um this is a military guy.
He's from Atlanta.
Uh he was stationed in Japan.
Um and then he, you know, hejust got down here about a year
(13:39):
ago.
He reached out to me and youknow, said he wanted to just be
around basketball.
He loved it.
Um and uh we kind of slowlybought him around and he's been
uh excellent.
He's excellent.
Um he's organized, you know,and he keeps me organized.
He does all the little things.
He's great with the kids.
He's just he's a great guy.
So that's my staff right thereas a whole.
(14:00):
And I can't forget Amanda.
Amanda Malot.
She's like my uh, I wouldn'tcall her like a team mom.
She's she's everything, youknow.
She's she does everything forthe for the guy.
As far as filling up thefridge, making sure the
Gatorades are cold, making surewe got food cooked, the burgers,
the cheeseburgers, the hotdogs.
Oh, coach, you were supposed toput in this form.
(14:20):
You forgot to fill this out.
So it's it's um, you know, shejust makes sure everything is,
she holds everything together.
She's like the glue.
So everything just stays tiedin with her.
So I can't forget about her.
Gotta give her a shout-out too.
Would very much be for a man ortwo.
Joy Nulisch (14:35):
Yeah, I I appreciate that.
When I was at the game, I waswatching the score, the
scorekeeper and the clockperson, whoever runs the clock.
Coach Butler (14:44):
Yeah, Ricky.
Joy Nulisch (14:45):
Okay, because that that's that's gotta be a lot of
pressure too, right?
Because you start watching thegame and you forget to hit the
button.
Coach Butler (14:52):
Yeah, Ricky, man.
Ricky, Ricky's been around along time.
He's real good at it.
Like he he he hits me up everyat the beginning of the season.
Ricky is he's our guy.
So whenever at the beginning ofthe season, hey coach, you need
me to do the clock?
And he's like, Yeah, I waslike, Yeah, you know I need you
on the clock, you know.
So yeah, so Miss MichelleBrown, she's our statistician.
So uh she controls, you know,all the all the stats for the
(15:13):
game.
And she's like a one-man man.
Like she does it all.
Like she has a little laptop, Imean her iPad, um, and she's
just sharp with the stats.
She's been doing it as long asI've been playing, as long as I
know.
She's another intricate part ofthe program.
Um, we appreciate her, youknow, her as well.
Um but yeah, she's real sharp.
She makes all the makes all thestats are correct, all the
(15:35):
games are uploaded, the rosteron Max Preps, everything is
good, the schedule.
She's kind of in charge of allthat.
So can't forget about MissMichelle as well, too, on the
program.
Definitely loves in um CharisReserve.
Joy Nulisch (15:47):
Takes a lot of conks to make something like
this happen, right?
Coach Butler (15:51):
Yeah, yeah.
It's a family thing.
Joy Nulisch (15:53):
And you mentioned Southernmost ballers, those
feeder programs, the PALleagues, southernmost ballers.
Now the the middle school has abasketball team.
Talk about that a little bit,and and I would assume that the
growth and the success of ourhigh school program has a lot to
do with those feeder programs.
Coach Butler (16:14):
Well, Hunter, but you look at all the major
cities, all the uh the premierbasketball states and cities,
they all have feeder.
They all start young, thirdgrade, fourth grade, fifth
grade.
So the youth is is the mostimportant.
You have to start thefundamentals, you have to start
building them up from that youngage.
And then once you get them upfrom that age, you start, you
(16:35):
know, then teaching all theother developmental things.
But from the beginning, youstart with the fundamentals.
So uh those programs areimportant.
And Southernmost Ballers isjust one.
There's multiple now in thecity.
Um, I remember five, six yearsago, I think there was like one
program in the city.
I think it was Storm Surge.
I think it was uh CoachDemetrius Roach uh ran Storm
(16:55):
Surge.
Um now there's multiple.
There's Storm Surge, um,there's Salt Life, uh there's
Southernmost Ballers.
Um there's a lot of differentroutes for kids to be able to
develop and train and getbetter, but with one goal to be
ready for the high school whenit's time.
So yeah, no, HOB, my cousin,actually coaches at HOB, so
(17:18):
we're connected, you know.
Um, Coach Don J Valdez is doinggreat things at um at HOB with
the kids.
So me and him talk all thetime, and Coach Richard Multi as
well is on the staff overthere.
We're constantly talking abouthow we can get those kids
developed and ready for the highschool.
Uh Coach Don Jay even goes asfar as trying to run my offense
(17:39):
and run my defenses just so thekids can be familiar with it
when they come over.
So yeah, Andrew again mentionedthat to me.
You know, it's important tokind of create that feeder.
You know, I coach Powell aswell, too.
Uh might not do it this year,but I have in the past, you
know, just trying to get my faceinvolved with that, see the
kids get, you know, get outthere more in the community.
So, but yeah, no, it's in it'simportant.
(18:00):
Again, hats off to Coach DonJay and Coach Richard too at
HOB.
Joy Nulisch (18:04):
Yeah, very good.
I'm glad I'm glad you mentionedthe other programs too.
I wasn't I wasn't aware of.
So it's definitely.
Coach Butler (18:11):
Like I said, there's a ton now.
I remember there used to be acouple, maybe one.
Now there's a bunch.
So all the kids out therelooking to you know continue
their their careers after seasonand summer.
There's gonna be flyers allposted around.
There's multiple programs outhere now where you can play and
develop.
So yeah.
Joy Nulisch (18:29):
And coach, you know what it takes to be a good ball
player.
Uh, you were a standout athletewhen you were in Key West High
School, you were part of that2012 team that went undefeated
during the regular season.
Tell me a little bit about thatteam.
Who were your coaches, yourteammates, and how did how do
you go undefeated?
I think you guys were 19-0.
Coach Butler (18:51):
Yeah, 18.
I think we were 18 and 1.
Joy Nulisch (18:53):
18 and 1, okay.
Coach Butler (18:55):
18 and 1.
Joy Nulisch (18:56):
Every season comes to that hard stop, right?
Coach Butler (18:59):
Yeah, for sure, man.
Um, yeah, uh, you're taking meback.
I mean, what I can start withwith that pro with that uh team,
I can honestly say, um, I wouldhave to again tip my hat off to
Coach Anton Lopez and CoachTony.
Again, Coach Tony was my coach.
Coach Lamar Moore, another onethat played for uh the state
(19:20):
championship team and also had agreat high school career for QS
High.
So uh we had another uhmilitary guy at that time too.
His name was Kenny, KennyMorton.
That was the staff at the time.
Coach Elliott Valdez helped outas well.
So we had like championshippedigree around us that helped
us, you know, train.
But with that team, again, Iwould have to tip my hat out to
(19:42):
Coach Anton for me personally,because I wasn't doing the right
things academically.
Um, you know, my junior season,I had a knee injury from
football, and I kind of justkind of went downhill from there
as far as my academics.
But Coach Anton didn't give upon me.
He gave me a chance to, youknow, go to summer school, get
my grades, and play with theteam over the summer.
(20:03):
And that summer is where wereally dialed in.
We traveled all over.
I mean, Coach Anton had us inmultiple states.
I mean, we played so many gamesthat summer.
It was just like all together.
The whole team stayed togetherall summer.
We did fundraisers, and uhagain, I just can't even thank
Coach Anton enough for doingthat, putting that time in.
(20:25):
But we were all over,competing.
So Virginia, Gainesville,Miami, Orlando, South Carolina,
North Carolina, Texas.
Like we literally weretraveling every other weekend.
So that was a key to you knowour success.
We played a lot of gamestogether.
We had real good chemistry.
We had a bond.
Oh, that's number two.
(20:45):
We had a real close bond.
You know, those were my realbrothers, you know, to this day.
I'm still good with everybodyon that team.
We were real brothers, likereal dialing with each other.
We cared for each other, weplayed our hearts out for each
other and for the coaches.
So I would say that just achemistry, just a bond that was
unbreakable.
Joy Nulisch (21:04):
Giving me the choose.
Coach Butler (21:06):
Yeah, no, for sure.
It's crazy to think aboutbecause it felt like it was not
that long ago, but it reallywas.
Um, and then uh just we justcompeted, man, in practice every
day with each other.
We we went hard, you know.
I went hard.
Jayquan, he pushed me.
Anthony Rice, they pushed me.
Uh, Tony Gid, you know, RyanWagner.
Ryan transferred in from, Iforgot where Ryan came from, but
(21:29):
he came right in and just fitright in with the with the guys.
And uh Don Jay played for thatteam.
Um Elliot, uh, Elliot Jr.,Elliot Valdez Jr.
played.
We had a solid squad, GeraldHernandez, and these were all
guys that were coming off thebench.
So it's like starting five hadto work every day because these
bench guys were good.
Joy Nulisch (21:50):
Knocking on the door.
Coach Butler (21:52):
They're here, like they're here.
So it's like we never couldtake a day off.
Man, they were they were in ourchest all day, and I think that
helped us.
And again, we just uh we knewwe could do something special
because of that summer.
We were traveling all over theworld, beating people, you know,
small little team from QS, justbeating everybody, and we
really knew right then andthere, like if we lock in, we
could have a good season.
And uh, we had a good season,you know.
(22:13):
It didn't end the way we wantedto, but I mean, the memories
and experiences from that year,like I'll never forget that, you
know.
So again, I want to, you know,I want the boys that I'm
coaching now to feel that.
It was it was fun.
I mean, I remember the chills,the Dural game, playing at home
against the Raoul, read out, thegym was just packed.
It was like, it was like it was2001 again, 2002.
(22:36):
Like it was it was nowhere tosit.
It was standing.
Like when we won that game, wejust the crowd just went crazy.
It was it's just I want them tofeel that.
So that's what I'm reallyearning for to get back to that
to that level of play.
But it was a fun, it was it wasfun.
High school was fun.
We had a great team, great run.
Uh, I think we were the lastdistrict champions.
Yeah, I just got the um therecords from Coach Wise.
(22:59):
Uh 2012, my year was the lastyear for boys basketball
district champions.
So trying to definitely get adistrict championship as a
coach, too.
So that'll be pretty cool.
Joy Nulisch (23:09):
Yeah, I want to see you.
I want to see you on that thatrecord list, right?
As a coach, a player who wonthe district championship, and a
coach who won it.
Coach Butler (23:19):
Right.
Joy Nulisch (23:19):
And um, speaking of those records, um the Butler
family is pretty much the firstfamily of basketball in Key
West.
When you think about basketballhere, you you think of bat, you
know, the Butlers.
Your uncles, Julian, Charles.
Obviously, the the court isBill Butler Court.
(23:41):
Um, I believe that's yourcousin.
So when you walk out there atpractice or a game and you step
on that court, you get anyfeels?
Does it feel like home or doesit feel like pressure?
Coach Butler (23:53):
No, I don't feel like pressure.
It feels like home.
You know, it's like that's likemy sanctuary, man.
I love that floor.
I love everything about it.
I think that all the work thatthe past butlers put in, you
know, to make our name stand outthat much.
It's just it's just a blessingto be a butler and to be, you
know, in this family and to beable to coach and play as a
(24:17):
butler.
And so it's just a blessing allin all.
I don't feel any pressure.
I do hear a lot about, youknow, certain things.
Definitely my uncle Juliandoesn't let me that that that
guy.
Again, I wasn't around, youknow, to see him play, but I
can't not hear about it.
That's all I hear about.
Him and Bill.
And again, there's you know,there's some other butlers too.
(24:37):
My cousin Kurt, it's it's toomany names.
You know, my brother, it's justtoo many names.
It's just so many butlers thatwere good and you know, just
cemented their name in Key Westbasketball history.
Just uh I think it's it's fun.
I'm I'm just happy to be abutler and happy to be able to
coach and you know just kind ofcontinue the legacy.
Joy Nulisch (24:57):
And coach, um, you mentioned your brother.
I want you to know thatMarquise will always be
remembered.
Coach Butler (25:05):
Yeah, for sure.
Well, he's in the gym, he's gota plaque in there, he's got his
jersey up, or he's got histrack jersey in there, his
jersey in there.
It's funny that we talk abouthim because I made a mistake
this year, you know, ordering myjerseys when uh I put in an
order for some Nike uniforms andI ordered a number two.
And I was just like, you know,number two is, you know, I don't
know if they officially likeretired the number, but I know
(25:28):
that uh, you know, all the priorcoaches honored it and nobody
wore it, you know.
Nobody nobody wore it.
I wore it my senior yearbecause, you know, I was just
again gifted to, you know, towear it.
My dad and you know, Marquise'smom were like, yeah, of course
you can wear it.
That's your brother.
So I wore two my senior year,but after me, you know, the
family wouldn't really let noone else wear the number, you
(25:50):
know, kind of like they retiredit.
But I ordered it and you know,I have it in the in the locker
room right now.
So I'm kind of like, I can'treally let no one wear it.
I was kind of thinking aboutit, but I was like, nah, but
it's just an extra uniformsitting in the in the locker
room now, brand new.
So I'm like, what do I do withit?
So I'm thinking about doingsomething special.
(26:10):
I don't know yet, but I'm gonnaget the family involved, but
I'm not gonna let anyone wearit.
But it's kind of crazy becauseI did order his number.
I ordered that number thisyear, and I was like, I messed
up.
Joy Nulisch (26:19):
No, you know what?
I don't think you messed up.
I think you need that jerseyclose to you.
Yeah, nobody else needs to wearit, but but maybe it needs to
be on a chair or or somewhere inthat locker room.
Coach Butler (26:32):
Yeah, something like that for sure.
Joy Nulisch (26:34):
You know, I I I yeah, I I love the way that
you're thinking some way tohonor him, and I know that the
Conk family will certainlysurround you with that.
You know, we were you talkedabout you being such a good
athlete, you play football andbasketball, you also went on to
play at the next level.
Coach Butler (26:53):
Yes.
Joy Nulisch (26:54):
What was that like leaving Key West and going to
college to play ball?
And how does that help you as acoach to develop the players
and maybe give them, you know,the information they need
because everybody thinks theywant to go to school but doesn't
necessarily know what it takes.
So how's that help you?
Coach Butler (27:15):
It helps tremendously.
I mean, started off withcoaching.
I had great coaches.
I again Lamar Moore and mycousin Carlton Thurston, they
helped me get into school.
I mean, once I graduated, I hadoptions to go to school, but
being a little timid, a little alittle frightened, you know,
still young, still uh, you know,a young man, I kind of like
(27:35):
deferred those options until Ifelt like I needed to stop being
so scary and you know go outthere into the world.
But they kind of got me a lookat a school in Minnesota called
Vermilion, now known asMinnesota North.
They were being coached by agreat coach.
Like again, another, like ifyou think about basketball in
Minnesota in that area, McDonaldis the name.
(27:57):
Just like Butler and Key West,it's McDonald up there.
So Coach Paul McDonald, um,shout out to Coach Paul.
You were a great coach.
I was blessed.
And I think I was just meant togo there.
I was meant to be underneathhim.
And he just, you know, taughtme so much about the game and
about life that I still carryall those things with me today.
And he's one of the reasons whyI wanted to coach.
(28:18):
He went hard for his players.
So yeah, I went to Minnesota, ajunior college in Minnesota
called uh Vermilion.
A great program in that area,you know, very high standards.
Go going into a program wherethey're expected to win, it was
tough.
Uh, but again, it wasdifficult.
I had to come from Key West,Florida to Ely, Minnesota.
Joy Nulisch (28:40):
I don't even know where it is.
I gotta look it up on a map.
Coach Butler (28:43):
I mean, nobody knows where that is.
It's northern Minnesota.
It's like it's like right bythe border of Canada.
I'm talking about freezingcold.
I mean, I'm coming from KeyWest where Christmas is like 70,
80 degrees.
You know, I'm up there inOctober, November.
It's 20, 10 degrees, fivedegrees.
I don't even know what to do.
So it was it was a mentalbattle more than anything.
(29:04):
It was mental.
Like, do I really want this?
Like, it's so cold.
I don't want to go to class.
Like, I gotta go to practice.
The gym is far.
I gotta walk to the gym.
So for me, my experience, itwas difficult, but I wanted to
hoop.
I wanted to play ball.
Uh, and I did well there.
I did well there at Vermillion.
I mean, my freshman year,sophomore year did well.
All tournament team both years.
(29:25):
I actually got a plaque up inthe gym.
Like I'm cemented there aswell, um, just like QS High.
So I'm I'm I'm there's like abig plaque of me up in the in
that gym too.
So um really good year, reallygood two, really two uh two
really good years there.
And then I got a scholarship toanother school in Kansas called
McPherson, being ran by anothergreat man, two great men
(29:47):
actually, uh Coach Tim, Coach E.
Um, who oh Coach E and CoachTim who are still in my life at
this very moment.
Uh Coach E is actually the headcoach at McPherson right now,
you know, in uh one of our oneof our Seniors last year is now
attending that school, CameronRoberts.
So he's at McPherson right now.
So I went there for a year.
(30:07):
So 2014, 2016, Vermillion, andthen 2016, 2017 at McPherson.
Played there for a year.
And then 2017, I moved back toKeys.
I just dealt with a lot goingon with my family.
My father passing and stufflike that, my firstborn.
So I moved back.
But then as soon as I movedback, I started working and I
(30:30):
started literally volunteeringaround Key West High.
Like I got right into it,volunteering.
And then just got right backinto it.
And I've been doing it eversince here, so about 2017,
either volunteering or helpingthe program out in some way.
But yeah, college was a greatexperience.
I learned a lot.
I played at a pretty highlevel.
And it taught me a lot.
It just taught me, you know,how to understand the game, the
(30:51):
IQ of the game.
So seeing it from that level, Ican teach it to the kids and
just help them develop their IQof the game and play better.
Because again, I really didplay at a pretty high level, you
know, compared to most people.
So again, it's just anadvantage.
Learn the higher the higherlevel you get, the more you
learn about the game, and thenjust be able to kind of go
(31:12):
through those experiences.
Being able to teach the boysthat stuff, uh, it just helps
them out too.
So yeah, it was it's a greatadvantage going to school.
Joy Nulisch (31:21):
I love that.
Do they know how good you were?
You tell them?
Coach Butler (31:26):
Nah, no, I'm kind of cubby now.
I'm a little I'm a littleheavy, so they think you know
the boy didn't have game back inthe day.
But uh every now and then Imight lace up, you know, James
wanna, you know, want to checkup.
You know, I might go with Jamesa couple times if you want to,
you know, test me.
But uh You got those broadshoulders, you could at least I
think in their mind, they'relike, all right, Coach Tommy was
(31:47):
pretty cool, he was prettysolid, but uh they just like to
test me.
But I think they know that Iwas I was solid.
Joy Nulisch (31:54):
I asked the same question of uh Coach Chad
Semenez when I when I wastalking to him, he said, nah,
that doesn't come up too oftenbecause you know he he was a
state wrestling qualifierwrestler, and the same thing.
I'm like, do you ever just takehim on the mat?
And he's like, nah, it don'tcome up too much.
Coach Butler (32:11):
No, I mean, like I said, sometimes, you know, I'll
get out there just to getactive.
You know, we're going throughsome drills, I'll get out there
showing a little couple things.
The boys like to shoot, youknow, they want to, oh coach,
let me shoot against you.
Like, let's do a shootingcompetition.
I never lose.
So none of the coaches beat meeither.
Coach Bernard, he's probablygonna see this segment and be
(32:33):
like, oh, Coach Bernard can'tbeat me either.
No coach, no player.
Um I'm infamous in shooting.
So the kids know that for sure.
When it comes to that, theyknow Coach Tommy's gonna shoot
the lights out.
Joy Nulisch (32:45):
That that's gonna be the clip.
That'll be the promo clip thatI post later.
That's the one right there.
Coach Butler (32:50):
That's the thing.
Joy Nulisch (32:52):
Um very good.
So we talked about the family.
We talked about basketball.
Let's um let's leave thesubject of basketball, but stay
with the subject of family.
Who are some of the otherconnections you have?
And we talked a lot about thebutler boys, but I know you got
a lot of strong women in yourlife as well and in your family.
(33:13):
So let's give some love to someof the rest of your family.
Coach Butler (33:16):
Uh, my aunt.
My aunt, my auntie Robin.
Love you, Auntie.
When I got the job, uh, youknow, she was the first one to
call me, you know, andcongratulate me.
Um, and told me if I neededanything, that uh, you know,
she'll be there.
And she has done that.
Last year was real tough, youknow.
Still being a first year coach,trying to get it all figured
(33:37):
out.
You know, she helped me run myconcession stand, she cooked for
me.
She stayed hours after hours,helped me, just whatever I
needed.
She's just always in my corner.
So my auntie, you know, a bigshout out to my auntie
Robinette.
Um, again, just supporting meand being there for me for
whatever I need.
So um, you know, my fiancee aswell.
(33:58):
It's real tough, you know,being a coach's wife or
soon-to-be wife.
So her, you know, just with thekids, helping out with the kids
when I got late practices.
Uh I gotta stay late or I'm ina bad mood because one of the
kids pissed me off.
Now I don't want to come homeand cuddle or talk because I'm
upset.
But we just took a loss and shegotta calm me down because I'm
(34:19):
mad.
And she just, you know, day inand day out, she's there for me
and she helps me uh withwhatever I need as far as
paperwork, keeping me honest.
You know, again, another personthat'll tell me if I'm wrong.
Joy Nulisch (34:31):
Yeah, somebody to check me.
Coach Butler (34:32):
Yeah, somebody to check me, keep me, keep me
straight.
So uh shout out to her as well.
My mom, my mother.
Joy Nulisch (34:39):
Yes, let's not forget your mama.
Coach Butler (34:41):
Can't forget the mom, man.
She is she's my rock, man.
Like, you know, when I got thejob, she again, another one.
She's proud of me.
She's always been that type ofmom that's been at all my games,
even when I play loudest,screaming, you know, just just
there supporting me, letting meknow she's there.
And she does the same thingnow, you know, with my kids.
(35:02):
And that's where, again, shejust helps out so much because I
get off of work, and you know,the kids need to be picked up.
Um, so she helps me out withthat a lot.
Like she makes sure the kidsare good.
And then once I'm done withpractice or whatever I need,
I'll just go pick the kids upfrom her.
So, but it also, you know, sheenjoys it, you know, being able
to bond with my children, andyou know, and they love her.
(35:24):
Like, you know, Grammy, so theythey love being with her.
So my mother, you know, I mean,as far as women, you know,
those are the three that at thetop.
Joy Nulisch (35:34):
Yeah, as as they should be.
And you you mentioned youmentioned your fiance soon to be
wife.
You guys are raising a familytogether.
So you're you're amulti-generation conch.
Now you got your own familythat you're raising.
What are some of those conchtraditions that you want to
instill in your children?
Coach Butler (35:54):
Just the pride, man, just to be prideful.
Um, you know, just good, good,good athletes, good, be good
sportsmen, um, you know,respectful kids, but compete,
you know, at a high level andjust know what it means to play
for something, you know, biggerthan yourself.
It's like we're a small,tight-knit community here
(36:15):
compared to all the schools thatwe have to play or all the
talent that we have to face.
But I think that I think that'swhat makes us stronger.
And that's just instilling thatin them.
I bring my kids around, theycome to practice with me.
My son loves basketball.
He shoots all day at practice.
Uh, he comes to all my games,they're excited about the game
Friday night.
So they just just keeping themaround the sport and uh letting
(36:38):
them see their dad in action,coaching, letting them see, they
have a really good bond withthe players.
All the players are reallygood.
Like I said, I have a reallygood group of kids.
They love my children, likethey treat my children like
they're little brothers.
Whenever my children comearound, respectful, they help
out, and you know, my kidsreally love them, like they look
look up to them.
So just that tradition of themseeing the older guys in action,
(37:03):
you know, practicing with me,seeing their dad coaching,
they're asking me questions.
I think that right there justinstills the tradition in them
and a discipline, you know, thelove of the game for them will
come.
I don't force them to play ordo anything.
I want them to love itthemselves.
And then uh yeah, that's reallyit.
I think that that's how I goabout it.
That's how I see it.
Joy Nulisch (37:24):
So, coach, I'm gonna go ahead and we're gonna
wrap it up.
I'm gonna ask you two bigquestions, though.
Coach Butler (37:29):
Alright, I'm ready.
Joy Nulisch (37:30):
You ready for it?
Coach Butler (37:31):
Yes.
Joy Nulisch (37:32):
What does conk pride mean to you?
Coach Butler (37:36):
Kunk pride to me is just toughness.
I think when I think conchpride, I just mean I think
toughness.
I think someone that will neverquit.
I think someone that is, again,respectful.
Um someone that is a hardworker, someone that is willing
to do whatever it takes, nomatter what the circumstances
(37:58):
are, what environment they'rein.
You know, yeah, we're a smalltown, yeah, we have this
disadvantage, but we're stillgonna come out here every day
and perform and we're gonna workand we're gonna show you what
we're all about.
So when I think about KunkPride, I think about toughness,
man, just the will to want to bea competitor and compete with
the rest of the world by anymeans necessary.
Joy Nulisch (38:21):
I love that.
That's gonna be a clip too.
Very good.
All right, and the lastquestion what brings you joy?
Coach Butler (38:29):
What brings me joy the most is just building
relationships with the kids,with the with the community,
with everyone.
You know, um, like our corevalues right now with the
program, one of the main thingsis connection.
You know, on the back of thekids' uh warm-ups, it says
connected.
And we're trying to allconstantly find ways to connect
(38:50):
with each other and connect withthe community and everywhere.
So I think that just buildingrelationships, you know.
I have a bunch of kids thatreach out to me to this day that
I coached, you know, and I'veimpacted their lives in a way
where they feel like, you know,I'm someone important to them.
I think just that that bringsme joy.
Seeing kids succeed, obviously,and you know, chase their
(39:11):
dreams and be successful inthat, knowing that, you know,
they're able to do somethingthat they want to do, and I'm
just there to help them.
Basketball brings me joy.
Coaching, being with my family,kids, like just normal things
like that, you know.
But uh, yeah, definitely in thebasketball sense, just seeing
kids, you know, chase theirdreams and be successful and
(39:31):
building relationships with themthat last, you know, long past
them being in high school.
You know, we'll be we'll befriends and family forever.
Joy Nulisch (39:41):
Coach Key West High School basketball is lucky to
have you.
Key West is lucky to have you.
I'm a big fan.
Coach Butler (39:48):
Thank you.
Joy Nulisch (39:49):
I really enjoyed our conversation.
I I want to end with one thing.
I wasn't sure if I was gonnamention this or not, but I told
you the other day I knew yourdaddy.
Yes, we we worked together atthe school district, but mostly
our connection came throughsports and photography.
Your daddy was a greatphotographer, and he and I
worked in the photo labs back inthe day when they used to be
(40:12):
photo labs, yeah.
And uh, so that's that was ourconnection together.
And whenever he saw me, he'dsay, Joy is joyous one, make a
joyful noise.
And uh it's my hope, it's mywish that he's hearing this
joyful noise that you and I arehaving in this conversation.
Coach Butler (40:32):
For sure, for sure.
He's around for sure.
Joy Nulisch (40:34):
Shining the light on you and the program and the
butler family.
I I hope from our mouth to hisears that he's able to hear this
joyful noise.
Coach Butler (40:43):
For sure.
Joy Nulisch (40:44):
Thank you, Coach.
Coach Butler (40:46):
Thank you, thank you for having me.
Joy Nulisch (40:47):
Go conks.
Coach Butler (40:48):
Go conks.
Joy Nulisch (40:49):
This episode is sponsored by Ramonis, promoting
conk pride since 1971.
I'm Joy Newleich, and Iappreciate you tuning into my
podcast.
My purpose is to bring joy intomy life and the lives of
others.
If you enjoyed this episode,drop a review, share, and
subscribe because there's a lotof good stuff on tap.
You can also follow Bring Joyon YouTube and Instagram, or
(41:10):
check my website atjoynoolish.com.
Now go bring joy to the peoplein your world.
Until next time, much.
I'm a first generation connection.
What is it going to end up to?
A whole amount of conk prime.
And that's what this show isall about.
Celebrating the incrediblepeople of the E West and their
stories.
From every corner of our conkcommunity.
So sit back and relax, colors.
Let's do this thing.
This episode is sponsored byRamonas, promoting Kong Prime
(01:00):
since 1971.
How are we doing, Kong fans?
I got a good one for you today.
We're talking with TommyButler, a true conch and head
coach of the Kewest High Schoolbasketball program.
Welcome to the show, Coach.
Coach Butler (01:14):
How are you doing?
Thank you for having me.
Joy Nulisch (01:16):
I'm excited that we're finally able to talk.
Coach Butler (01:19):
Yeah.
Joy Nulisch (01:20):
And um, we're gonna get right into it.
What should Kunk fans expectthis season from the conk
basketball team?
Coach Butler (01:27):
Just a team that's connected.
Uh, we got a good group ofguys, so they really love
playing for each other.
Um it's a team like a unit, youknow.
Years past, you individuals,individuals have been really
trying to build a team.
So a team that's just connectedand uh they play hard, they
play for each other.
You know, we've just beeninstilling that into them.
So just a team that fightstogether, plays as a unit, plays
(01:49):
together.
Joy Nulisch (01:50):
I love that.
And I'll flip the questionaround what do you and the team
expect from Cong fans thisseason?
Coach Butler (01:57):
Just to show up, man, to support the boys, they
feed off of that energy.
Um, a lot of games last season,I think the crowd kind of
willed the boys to to playharder while they were tired or
fatigued.
It just makes them want to uhwant to give more and go harder
when they see their friends andfamily out there chairing them
all.
So just the support.
Joy Nulisch (02:15):
That sounds good.
I was able to go to one of thepreseason games, and I have to
tell you, I had the best timethat I've had in a long time.
The there was a lot of fans inthe stands, everybody was hyped,
and your boys were running thefloor from one end to the other.
I say it was tenacious defense,you know, putting the pressure
on the other team, making theshots.
Coach Butler (02:37):
Yeah, so uh high octane.
Um we run a lot of practice.
Um we go up, we get up anddown, you know, majority of
practice.
So uh when we get in the game,that's just what we want to do.
We want to uh you know pressurethe other team and try to get
them to turn the ball over andjust run the floor and make it
easy on us.
Uh, you know, not too muchoffense.
I mean, when we need to, we'llget there, but we try to defend,
(03:00):
uh, you know, rebound and runthe floor, you know, make shots,
layups.
But yeah, that's the stuff.
That's our identity this year.
Joy Nulisch (03:08):
The the fundamentals, right?
Coach Butler (03:10):
Right.
Yes, ma'am.
Joy Nulisch (03:11):
And I have to say I appreciate, I don't think
anybody missed the layup.
And I remember years past, hegot it wide open, and you know,
they they missed the layup.
So I I appreciated the factthat they was hitting the
layups, the little shortjumpers, and it was plenty of
three-pointers, too, to bringthe crowd to the feet.
Coach Butler (03:30):
For sure.
I know, I know that um, youknow, again, years past, man, we
struggle with shooting, man.
So uh again, it's anotheremphasis of the other program
this year.
The boys kind of voiced it tome over the summer after last
year, like, coach, we need toshoot more.
We need to put up more shots.
So I kind of you know heard himout, listen to him.
So now we we put up a ton ofshots in practice.
(03:50):
So it showed that that nightthey they really put the ball in
the basket.
You know, layups, that'sunacceptable.
We don't miss layups.
The boys know you come topractice, you miss a layup,
push-ups, sprints.
So we just try to drill it inthe hair.
You know, we got to get theopen layups for sure.
Joy Nulisch (04:06):
I love that.
I'm not a basketballaficionado, but I definitely
noticed those little things.
And like I said, I had a greattime out at the basketball game,
and I plan on being there asmany games as possible.
But speaking of that, I waslooking at the schedule, and I
believe we have 10 home gamesthis year.
Coach Butler (04:24):
Yes, 10.
Yes.
There was there was a mistakeon the schedule too.
December, I don't know ifyou're yeah, you probably the
schedule that I put out, therewas a mistake on there.
Uh December 6th, we play, uh,it was a Saturday, it's a
Saturday.
We play uh pace.
It says away on the schedule,but it's really home.
So there was just a littlemistake on the schedule.
So I don't know if you were ifyou knew that already, but maybe
(04:47):
we have 11 home games.
But yeah, December 6th,Monsignor Pace, that is a home
game, but that's not an awaygame.
Joy Nulisch (04:56):
Okay.
And I circled that one becauseI don't know about this
generation of conks, but backwhen I was growing up and the
years after, there's no room forpace on this island.
We that's that's a rival.
Is that is that still existing?
Coach Butler (05:10):
That's a historic rival.
I mean, we haven't played them.
The intensity of the robberyhas definitely died down.
We haven't played them in awhile.
But I still remember as a kid,you know.
I remember growing up, youknow, watching my older
brothers, my older cousins, andall the older guys, you know,
that old that old 102 run, uh,we had to be pace at pace.
I remember being able to getout of school to come attend all
(05:32):
those games.
So I remember the the traditionand the history behind the pace
rivalry for sure.
So when I do schedule them, youknow, it's in my mind for sure.
I think about it.
Joy Nulisch (05:41):
Well, that's that's good stuff.
And I see Marathon is also onthe schedule.
It's always good to play one ofthe keys rival teams as well.
Coach Butler (05:49):
Yeah, yeah.
I got marathon twice.
Uh Coach Murphy is a greatcoach.
He's also running a greatprogram over there.
Um, I love Coach Murphy, man.
So yeah, we're gonna get themtwice.
And uh they actually beat uslast year, man, in Marathon.
So, you know, a little uh, youknow.
Joy Nulisch (06:04):
That's good.
That's good.
It keeps everybody on theirtoes.
Coach Butler (06:06):
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
They have a great, they got agreat program over there.
They're building up realstrong.
They got some strong playersright now.
Real competitive.
It's no more, you know, Kiwa isjust gonna stomp Marathon.
They're they're competitive,they're competing now.
Yeah, we have them homing awaythis year.
And again, it should be itshould be a good show.
Joy Nulisch (06:23):
Sounds good.
So when you confirmed that youwould be on the podcast, I put
out a promo on social media andI asked the listeners if they
had any questions for you.
Coach Butler (06:33):
Yeah, I saw that.
I saw that.
Joy Nulisch (06:34):
Um, I don't know if you saw athletic director
Andrew Freeman.
He wants to know if you'regonna be rocking the suit and
tie this season.
Coach Butler (06:42):
So, um, what's that about?
The kids uh the kids asked meum about that as well.
They asked me if I was gonna uhthey ever gonna see me in a
suit and tie.
So it's a thing, you know.
Andrew's another one.
He wants to, I don't know, hewants me to dress up.
I told the kids that, you know,senior night, you know, coach
is gonna get I'm gonna get I'mgonna get fly for him.
(07:04):
So senior night, we playWestminster uh January 16th at
home.
I'll be I'll be in I'll bedapper.
Joy Nulisch (07:13):
That sounds good.
I'll I'll be there for sure.
And um I believe you and Andrewgraduated class of 2012
together.
Coach Butler (07:20):
Yeah, I think I I think I don't know if Andrew was
2012.
He might have been 13, likeright after, but fairly close.
We went to school together forsure.
Andrew Andrew is uh he's atremendous AD for sure.
He helps me out.
Um he's a tremendous guy.
Great to have him.
Joy Nulisch (07:36):
So you're in your second year as the head coach.
Coach Butler (07:40):
Yes.
Joy Nulisch (07:40):
What is something you learned last year that
you're glad you know now cominginto this second season?
Coach Butler (07:46):
Um, just patience.
Um, I think that I wantedeverything to work out my first
year, like right then.
I wanted to just get the joband just get them going and just
be like, all right, we're good,we're ready to compete.
Uh state championship.
And I had to, you know, realitycheck.
Like we went 9 and 12 lastyear.
You know, I had a main, a mainguy go down with injuries, and
(08:08):
it's just dealing with a lot ofthings that you have to also be
ready for.
Um, so I think just learninghow to be patient and just uh
enjoy the grind and reallyembrace the grind of it, and
kind of not looking at theoutcome of games and wins and
losses, but just trying todevelop the kids and to be the
best version of themselves, likeon and off the court.
So yeah, just patience andletting it all letting it all
(08:31):
settle in and understanding thatit might take a couple years,
you know, a couple years toreally reach that for it to set
in and get to that level that wewant to get to.
So yeah, I would say that.
Joy Nulisch (08:40):
I love the expectation and and raising the
standards.
I love the fact that you saidthat the players came to you and
say, hey, you know, we want toshoot the ball.
We we know we're looking forimprovement.
So they they want to win,they're ready to win.
Also, you've got some seniorson the team, quite a few
seniors.
James Osborne for sure.
Coach Butler (09:02):
Uh Osborne's a good Oscar.
Joy Nulisch (09:05):
He's he slammed one.
He he had a slam dunk the otherweekend.
Coach Butler (09:09):
Yeah, he slammed it.
Should be getting the screen alittle harder, but I'll give it
that one.
He got he got it.
Joy Nulisch (09:15):
I love to watch him play.
You know, he comes from a lineof basketball players.
His daddy could play.
And uh, who are some of theother uh seniors that you're
looking and having expectationsfor this year?
Coach Butler (09:30):
Zachary Levering, uh, another one.
I've been around him since hewas a freshman, now four years.
Another one, big, 6'6, solidguy, great kid, great in school
academically.
He's everything you would want,the kid, coachable, respectful,
you know, and just looking forhim to have a big season too.
I think that he can he has alot that he can offer and
provide for the team.
So I think that he's gonna stepinto a to his largest role.
(09:53):
You know, he's never been, youknow, someone that had a huge
role.
I think this year is his firstyear where I feel like I expect,
and he expects out of himselfto have like a large role on the
team.
So Zach, uh Jackson Cabrera,another good, another good kid,
great kid.
Um, worked really hard.
You know, first couple years Ihad him, didn't really have the
confidence, didn't want to shootthe ball.
(10:13):
Uh, and then last year he justkind of broke open.
Had dealt with a coupleinjuries his sophomore year, he
injured his leg really bad.
So his junior year was like hisbreakout year last year.
And he he was my most improvedplayer and um provides a lot for
us on the defensive end.
He's real uh, you know,aggressive, and you can see if
you were at the preseason game.
He's in your face all game.
Um and he's starting to getmore confident with his offense
(10:34):
too.
So we we need that.
Alex Means, another anothergood kid.
Alex Means actually almostdidn't make the team, but he,
you know, we fought his way backand got back in the program,
and he's doing really good.
Um, real excited about him aswell.
He provides us with a sparkthat, you know, scoring-wise,
that we need an experience thatwe need on the floor.
Um, Connor Freeman is anothersenior.
(10:56):
Again, a great kid.
Um, doesn't really play thatmuch, but he doesn't care.
He just wants to be with histeam.
He gives it all.
When I do put him in the game,he's gonna give it 100%.
And I love that about him, andthat's why I always pick him to
play for me.
Um, you know, but uh those aresome of the top guys.
Sanatillo, another guy who kindof hasn't been around too much.
He had a really good freshmanand sophomore year on JV.
(11:18):
And then his junior year, hekind of got away from it a
little bit.
And now it's his senior year,he's back, but he's still trying
to get into the groove.
Same as Kaihan.
Kyan is uh a huge force.
I mean, he's comes off thebench, he's strong, he's uh he's
athletic.
Um he's he's fast.
He he just provides us with uhyou know that strong force that
we need.
So again, we got a good groupof seniors, good group of guys.
(11:40):
Um I'm pretty sharp for guylike one or two, or but I mean
that's those are the most, thoseare the those guys that are uh
you know in the rotation activenow.
Joy Nulisch (11:49):
That sounds good.
And look, let's just do this.
Let's say that this won't bethis is the first episode we do
together, but it won't be thelast.
You win district championships,we get we get into the
playoffs, and we'll do anotherepisode.
We can talk about all theplayers.
Coach Butler (12:02):
Sure, yeah, we're gonna do that.
Joy Nulisch (12:03):
Let's give a shout out to the coaches too, because
I know you got uh a staff aroundyou.
So who are some of the coachesthat are helping out?
Coach Butler (12:10):
Uh I have coach Tony McDowell.
Um great guy.
Um, I mean, he coached me allmy life, you know, growing up.
So he's my head, he's my JVcoach.
He's in charge of the JV.
So he is, again, another greatguy that I love to have around.
He's a great disciplinarian.
Um he's uh very, very good withthe kids as far as in
(12:31):
discipline, keeping them sharpgrades, you know, attendance and
stuff like that.
We just love having them aroundthe guys.
Coach Bernard is my assistant.
Bernard Simmons, he's beenaround the program again since
I've been there managing.
He's done it all.
Like when I was there inschool, he was my manager.
He was he was everything forme, you know?
And um now he's taking on alarger role in being my lead
(12:54):
assistant of the program, and hejust keeps me on my toes.
He's honest.
Um, you know, he's he's not ayes man.
He'll tell me, hey, coach, youwere wrong.
You know, so I need that aroundme.
He's good for that.
Um, Coach Herschel Major, um,again, another good guy, um,
just a great role model to havearound the kids.
Um he also runs um a programover the summer that kind of
(13:17):
directly links into what we gotgoing on with the high school.
So the kids are gettingdeveloped year-round with his
program, Southernmost Ballers.
So he it's great to have himaround.
And then a new face that a lotof a lot of uh people in the
city don't know is uh DeQuandreMcNeil.
Um this is a military guy.
He's from Atlanta.
Uh he was stationed in Japan.
Um and then he, you know, hejust got down here about a year
(13:39):
ago.
He reached out to me and youknow, said he wanted to just be
around basketball.
He loved it.
Um and uh we kind of slowlybought him around and he's been
uh excellent.
He's excellent.
Um he's organized, you know,and he keeps me organized.
He does all the little things.
He's great with the kids.
He's just he's a great guy.
So that's my staff right thereas a whole.
(14:00):
And I can't forget Amanda.
Amanda Malot.
She's like my uh, I wouldn'tcall her like a team mom.
She's she's everything, youknow.
She's she does everything forthe for the guy.
As far as filling up thefridge, making sure the
Gatorades are cold, making surewe got food cooked, the burgers,
the cheeseburgers, the hotdogs.
Oh, coach, you were supposed toput in this form.
(14:20):
You forgot to fill this out.
So it's it's um, you know, shejust makes sure everything is,
she holds everything together.
She's like the glue.
So everything just stays tiedin with her.
So I can't forget about her.
Gotta give her a shout-out too.
Would very much be for a man ortwo.
Joy Nulisch (14:35):
Yeah, I I appreciate that.
When I was at the game, I waswatching the score, the
scorekeeper and the clockperson, whoever runs the clock.
Coach Butler (14:44):
Yeah, Ricky.
Joy Nulisch (14:45):
Okay, because that that's that's gotta be a lot of
pressure too, right?
Because you start watching thegame and you forget to hit the
button.
Coach Butler (14:52):
Yeah, Ricky, man.
Ricky, Ricky's been around along time.
He's real good at it.
Like he he he hits me up everyat the beginning of the season.
Ricky is he's our guy.
So whenever at the beginning ofthe season, hey coach, you need
me to do the clock?
And he's like, Yeah, I waslike, Yeah, you know I need you
on the clock, you know.
So yeah, so Miss MichelleBrown, she's our statistician.
So uh she controls, you know,all the all the stats for the
(15:13):
game.
And she's like a one-man man.
Like she does it all.
Like she has a little laptop, Imean her iPad, um, and she's
just sharp with the stats.
She's been doing it as long asI've been playing, as long as I
know.
She's another intricate part ofthe program.
Um, we appreciate her, youknow, her as well.
Um but yeah, she's real sharp.
She makes all the makes all thestats are correct, all the
(15:35):
games are uploaded, the rosteron Max Preps, everything is
good, the schedule.
She's kind of in charge of allthat.
So can't forget about MissMichelle as well, too, on the
program.
Definitely loves in um CharisReserve.
Joy Nulisch (15:47):
Takes a lot of conks to make something like
this happen, right?
Coach Butler (15:51):
Yeah, yeah.
It's a family thing.
Joy Nulisch (15:53):
And you mentioned Southernmost ballers, those
feeder programs, the PALleagues, southernmost ballers.
Now the the middle school has abasketball team.
Talk about that a little bit,and and I would assume that the
growth and the success of ourhigh school program has a lot to
do with those feeder programs.
Coach Butler (16:14):
Well, Hunter, but you look at all the major
cities, all the uh the premierbasketball states and cities,
they all have feeder.
They all start young, thirdgrade, fourth grade, fifth
grade.
So the youth is is the mostimportant.
You have to start thefundamentals, you have to start
building them up from that youngage.
And then once you get them upfrom that age, you start, you
(16:35):
know, then teaching all theother developmental things.
But from the beginning, youstart with the fundamentals.
So uh those programs areimportant.
And Southernmost Ballers isjust one.
There's multiple now in thecity.
Um, I remember five, six yearsago, I think there was like one
program in the city.
I think it was Storm Surge.
I think it was uh CoachDemetrius Roach uh ran Storm
(16:55):
Surge.
Um now there's multiple.
There's Storm Surge, um,there's Salt Life, uh there's
Southernmost Ballers.
Um there's a lot of differentroutes for kids to be able to
develop and train and getbetter, but with one goal to be
ready for the high school whenit's time.
So yeah, no, HOB, my cousin,actually coaches at HOB, so
(17:18):
we're connected, you know.
Um, Coach Don J Valdez is doinggreat things at um at HOB with
the kids.
So me and him talk all thetime, and Coach Richard Multi as
well is on the staff overthere.
We're constantly talking abouthow we can get those kids
developed and ready for the highschool.
Uh Coach Don Jay even goes asfar as trying to run my offense
(17:39):
and run my defenses just so thekids can be familiar with it
when they come over.
So yeah, Andrew again mentionedthat to me.
You know, it's important tokind of create that feeder.
You know, I coach Powell aswell, too.
Uh might not do it this year,but I have in the past, you
know, just trying to get my faceinvolved with that, see the
kids get, you know, get outthere more in the community.
So, but yeah, no, it's in it'simportant.
(18:00):
Again, hats off to Coach DonJay and Coach Richard too at
HOB.
Joy Nulisch (18:04):
Yeah, very good.
I'm glad I'm glad you mentionedthe other programs too.
I wasn't I wasn't aware of.
So it's definitely.
Coach Butler (18:11):
Like I said, there's a ton now.
I remember there used to be acouple, maybe one.
Now there's a bunch.
So all the kids out therelooking to you know continue
their their careers after seasonand summer.
There's gonna be flyers allposted around.
There's multiple programs outhere now where you can play and
develop.
So yeah.
Joy Nulisch (18:29):
And coach, you know what it takes to be a good ball
player.
Uh, you were a standout athletewhen you were in Key West High
School, you were part of that2012 team that went undefeated
during the regular season.
Tell me a little bit about thatteam.
Who were your coaches, yourteammates, and how did how do
you go undefeated?
I think you guys were 19-0.
Coach Butler (18:51):
Yeah, 18.
I think we were 18 and 1.
Joy Nulisch (18:53):
18 and 1, okay.
Coach Butler (18:55):
18 and 1.
Joy Nulisch (18:56):
Every season comes to that hard stop, right?
Coach Butler (18:59):
Yeah, for sure, man.
Um, yeah, uh, you're taking meback.
I mean, what I can start withwith that pro with that uh team,
I can honestly say, um, I wouldhave to again tip my hat off to
Coach Anton Lopez and CoachTony.
Again, Coach Tony was my coach.
Coach Lamar Moore, another onethat played for uh the state
(19:20):
championship team and also had agreat high school career for QS
High.
So uh we had another uhmilitary guy at that time too.
His name was Kenny, KennyMorton.
That was the staff at the time.
Coach Elliott Valdez helped outas well.
So we had like championshippedigree around us that helped
us, you know, train.
But with that team, again, Iwould have to tip my hat out to
(19:42):
Coach Anton for me personally,because I wasn't doing the right
things academically.
Um, you know, my junior season,I had a knee injury from
football, and I kind of justkind of went downhill from there
as far as my academics.
But Coach Anton didn't give upon me.
He gave me a chance to, youknow, go to summer school, get
my grades, and play with theteam over the summer.
(20:03):
And that summer is where wereally dialed in.
We traveled all over.
I mean, Coach Anton had us inmultiple states.
I mean, we played so many gamesthat summer.
It was just like all together.
The whole team stayed togetherall summer.
We did fundraisers, and uhagain, I just can't even thank
Coach Anton enough for doingthat, putting that time in.
(20:25):
But we were all over,competing.
So Virginia, Gainesville,Miami, Orlando, South Carolina,
North Carolina, Texas.
Like we literally weretraveling every other weekend.
So that was a key to you knowour success.
We played a lot of gamestogether.
We had real good chemistry.
We had a bond.
Oh, that's number two.
(20:45):
We had a real close bond.
You know, those were my realbrothers, you know, to this day.
I'm still good with everybodyon that team.
We were real brothers, likereal dialing with each other.
We cared for each other, weplayed our hearts out for each
other and for the coaches.
So I would say that just achemistry, just a bond that was
unbreakable.
Joy Nulisch (21:04):
Giving me the choose.
Coach Butler (21:06):
Yeah, no, for sure.
It's crazy to think aboutbecause it felt like it was not
that long ago, but it reallywas.
Um, and then uh just we justcompeted, man, in practice every
day with each other.
We we went hard, you know.
I went hard.
Jayquan, he pushed me.
Anthony Rice, they pushed me.
Uh, Tony Gid, you know, RyanWagner.
Ryan transferred in from, Iforgot where Ryan came from, but
(21:29):
he came right in and just fitright in with the with the guys.
And uh Don Jay played for thatteam.
Um Elliot, uh, Elliot Jr.,Elliot Valdez Jr.
played.
We had a solid squad, GeraldHernandez, and these were all
guys that were coming off thebench.
So it's like starting five hadto work every day because these
bench guys were good.
Joy Nulisch (21:50):
Knocking on the door.
Coach Butler (21:52):
They're here, like they're here.
So it's like we never couldtake a day off.
Man, they were they were in ourchest all day, and I think that
helped us.
And again, we just uh we knewwe could do something special
because of that summer.
We were traveling all over theworld, beating people, you know,
small little team from QS, justbeating everybody, and we
really knew right then andthere, like if we lock in, we
could have a good season.
And uh, we had a good season,you know.
(22:13):
It didn't end the way we wantedto, but I mean, the memories
and experiences from that year,like I'll never forget that, you
know.
So again, I want to, you know,I want the boys that I'm
coaching now to feel that.
It was it was fun.
I mean, I remember the chills,the Dural game, playing at home
against the Raoul, read out, thegym was just packed.
It was like, it was like it was2001 again, 2002.
(22:36):
Like it was it was nowhere tosit.
It was standing.
Like when we won that game, wejust the crowd just went crazy.
It was it's just I want them tofeel that.
So that's what I'm reallyearning for to get back to that
to that level of play.
But it was a fun, it was it wasfun.
High school was fun.
We had a great team, great run.
Uh, I think we were the lastdistrict champions.
Yeah, I just got the um therecords from Coach Wise.
(22:59):
Uh 2012, my year was the lastyear for boys basketball
district champions.
So trying to definitely get adistrict championship as a
coach, too.
So that'll be pretty cool.
Joy Nulisch (23:09):
Yeah, I want to see you.
I want to see you on that thatrecord list, right?
As a coach, a player who wonthe district championship, and a
coach who won it.
Coach Butler (23:19):
Right.
Joy Nulisch (23:19):
And um, speaking of those records, um the Butler
family is pretty much the firstfamily of basketball in Key
West.
When you think about basketballhere, you you think of bat, you
know, the Butlers.
Your uncles, Julian, Charles.
Obviously, the the court isBill Butler Court.
(23:41):
Um, I believe that's yourcousin.
So when you walk out there atpractice or a game and you step
on that court, you get anyfeels?
Does it feel like home or doesit feel like pressure?
Coach Butler (23:53):
No, I don't feel like pressure.
It feels like home.
You know, it's like that's likemy sanctuary, man.
I love that floor.
I love everything about it.
I think that all the work thatthe past butlers put in, you
know, to make our name stand outthat much.
It's just it's just a blessingto be a butler and to be, you
know, in this family and to beable to coach and play as a
(24:17):
butler.
And so it's just a blessing allin all.
I don't feel any pressure.
I do hear a lot about, youknow, certain things.
Definitely my uncle Juliandoesn't let me that that that
guy.
Again, I wasn't around, youknow, to see him play, but I
can't not hear about it.
That's all I hear about.
Him and Bill.
And again, there's you know,there's some other butlers too.
(24:37):
My cousin Kurt, it's it's toomany names.
You know, my brother, it's justtoo many names.
It's just so many butlers thatwere good and you know, just
cemented their name in Key Westbasketball history.
Just uh I think it's it's fun.
I'm I'm just happy to be abutler and happy to be able to
coach and you know just kind ofcontinue the legacy.
Joy Nulisch (24:57):
And coach, um, you mentioned your brother.
I want you to know thatMarquise will always be
remembered.
Coach Butler (25:05):
Yeah, for sure.
Well, he's in the gym, he's gota plaque in there, he's got his
jersey up, or he's got histrack jersey in there, his
jersey in there.
It's funny that we talk abouthim because I made a mistake
this year, you know, ordering myjerseys when uh I put in an
order for some Nike uniforms andI ordered a number two.
And I was just like, you know,number two is, you know, I don't
know if they officially likeretired the number, but I know
(25:28):
that uh, you know, all the priorcoaches honored it and nobody
wore it, you know.
Nobody nobody wore it.
I wore it my senior yearbecause, you know, I was just
again gifted to, you know, towear it.
My dad and you know, Marquise'smom were like, yeah, of course
you can wear it.
That's your brother.
So I wore two my senior year,but after me, you know, the
family wouldn't really let noone else wear the number, you
(25:50):
know, kind of like they retiredit.
But I ordered it and you know,I have it in the in the locker
room right now.
So I'm kind of like, I can'treally let no one wear it.
I was kind of thinking aboutit, but I was like, nah, but
it's just an extra uniformsitting in the in the locker
room now, brand new.
So I'm like, what do I do withit?
So I'm thinking about doingsomething special.
(26:10):
I don't know yet, but I'm gonnaget the family involved, but
I'm not gonna let anyone wearit.
But it's kind of crazy becauseI did order his number.
I ordered that number thisyear, and I was like, I messed
up.
Joy Nulisch (26:19):
No, you know what?
I don't think you messed up.
I think you need that jerseyclose to you.
Yeah, nobody else needs to wearit, but but maybe it needs to
be on a chair or or somewhere inthat locker room.
Coach Butler (26:32):
Yeah, something like that for sure.
Joy Nulisch (26:34):
You know, I I I yeah, I I love the way that
you're thinking some way tohonor him, and I know that the
Conk family will certainlysurround you with that.
You know, we were you talkedabout you being such a good
athlete, you play football andbasketball, you also went on to
play at the next level.
Coach Butler (26:53):
Yes.
Joy Nulisch (26:54):
What was that like leaving Key West and going to
college to play ball?
And how does that help you as acoach to develop the players
and maybe give them, you know,the information they need
because everybody thinks theywant to go to school but doesn't
necessarily know what it takes.
So how's that help you?
Coach Butler (27:15):
It helps tremendously.
I mean, started off withcoaching.
I had great coaches.
I again Lamar Moore and mycousin Carlton Thurston, they
helped me get into school.
I mean, once I graduated, I hadoptions to go to school, but
being a little timid, a little alittle frightened, you know,
still young, still uh, you know,a young man, I kind of like
(27:35):
deferred those options until Ifelt like I needed to stop being
so scary and you know go outthere into the world.
But they kind of got me a lookat a school in Minnesota called
Vermilion, now known asMinnesota North.
They were being coached by agreat coach.
Like again, another, like ifyou think about basketball in
Minnesota in that area, McDonaldis the name.
(27:57):
Just like Butler and Key West,it's McDonald up there.
So Coach Paul McDonald, um,shout out to Coach Paul.
You were a great coach.
I was blessed.
And I think I was just meant togo there.
I was meant to be underneathhim.
And he just, you know, taughtme so much about the game and
about life that I still carryall those things with me today.
And he's one of the reasons whyI wanted to coach.
(28:18):
He went hard for his players.
So yeah, I went to Minnesota, ajunior college in Minnesota
called uh Vermilion.
A great program in that area,you know, very high standards.
Go going into a program wherethey're expected to win, it was
tough.
Uh, but again, it wasdifficult.
I had to come from Key West,Florida to Ely, Minnesota.
Joy Nulisch (28:40):
I don't even know where it is.
I gotta look it up on a map.
Coach Butler (28:43):
I mean, nobody knows where that is.
It's northern Minnesota.
It's like it's like right bythe border of Canada.
I'm talking about freezingcold.
I mean, I'm coming from KeyWest where Christmas is like 70,
80 degrees.
You know, I'm up there inOctober, November.
It's 20, 10 degrees, fivedegrees.
I don't even know what to do.
So it was it was a mentalbattle more than anything.
(29:04):
It was mental.
Like, do I really want this?
Like, it's so cold.
I don't want to go to class.
Like, I gotta go to practice.
The gym is far.
I gotta walk to the gym.
So for me, my experience, itwas difficult, but I wanted to
hoop.
I wanted to play ball.
Uh, and I did well there.
I did well there at Vermillion.
I mean, my freshman year,sophomore year did well.
All tournament team both years.
(29:25):
I actually got a plaque up inthe gym.
Like I'm cemented there aswell, um, just like QS High.
So I'm I'm I'm there's like abig plaque of me up in the in
that gym too.
So um really good year, reallygood two, really two uh two
really good years there.
And then I got a scholarship toanother school in Kansas called
McPherson, being ran by anothergreat man, two great men
(29:47):
actually, uh Coach Tim, Coach E.
Um, who oh Coach E and CoachTim who are still in my life at
this very moment.
Uh Coach E is actually the headcoach at McPherson right now,
you know, in uh one of our oneof our Seniors last year is now
attending that school, CameronRoberts.
So he's at McPherson right now.
So I went there for a year.
(30:07):
So 2014, 2016, Vermillion, andthen 2016, 2017 at McPherson.
Played there for a year.
And then 2017, I moved back toKeys.
I just dealt with a lot goingon with my family.
My father passing and stufflike that, my firstborn.
So I moved back.
But then as soon as I movedback, I started working and I
(30:30):
started literally volunteeringaround Key West High.
Like I got right into it,volunteering.
And then just got right backinto it.
And I've been doing it eversince here, so about 2017,
either volunteering or helpingthe program out in some way.
But yeah, college was a greatexperience.
I learned a lot.
I played at a pretty highlevel.
And it taught me a lot.
It just taught me, you know,how to understand the game, the
(30:51):
IQ of the game.
So seeing it from that level, Ican teach it to the kids and
just help them develop their IQof the game and play better.
Because again, I really didplay at a pretty high level, you
know, compared to most people.
So again, it's just anadvantage.
Learn the higher the higherlevel you get, the more you
learn about the game, and thenjust be able to kind of go
(31:12):
through those experiences.
Being able to teach the boysthat stuff, uh, it just helps
them out too.
So yeah, it was it's a greatadvantage going to school.
Joy Nulisch (31:21):
I love that.
Do they know how good you were?
You tell them?
Coach Butler (31:26):
Nah, no, I'm kind of cubby now.
I'm a little I'm a littleheavy, so they think you know
the boy didn't have game back inthe day.
But uh every now and then Imight lace up, you know, James
wanna, you know, want to checkup.
You know, I might go with Jamesa couple times if you want to,
you know, test me.
But uh You got those broadshoulders, you could at least I
think in their mind, they'relike, all right, Coach Tommy was
(31:47):
pretty cool, he was prettysolid, but uh they just like to
test me.
But I think they know that Iwas I was solid.
Joy Nulisch (31:54):
I asked the same question of uh Coach Chad
Semenez when I when I wastalking to him, he said, nah,
that doesn't come up too oftenbecause you know he he was a
state wrestling qualifierwrestler, and the same thing.
I'm like, do you ever just takehim on the mat?
And he's like, nah, it don'tcome up too much.
Coach Butler (32:11):
No, I mean, like I said, sometimes, you know, I'll
get out there just to getactive.
You know, we're going throughsome drills, I'll get out there
showing a little couple things.
The boys like to shoot, youknow, they want to, oh coach,
let me shoot against you.
Like, let's do a shootingcompetition.
I never lose.
So none of the coaches beat meeither.
Coach Bernard, he's probablygonna see this segment and be
(32:33):
like, oh, Coach Bernard can'tbeat me either.
No coach, no player.
Um I'm infamous in shooting.
So the kids know that for sure.
When it comes to that, theyknow Coach Tommy's gonna shoot
the lights out.
Joy Nulisch (32:45):
That that's gonna be the clip.
That'll be the promo clip thatI post later.
That's the one right there.
Coach Butler (32:50):
That's the thing.
Joy Nulisch (32:52):
Um very good.
So we talked about the family.
We talked about basketball.
Let's um let's leave thesubject of basketball, but stay
with the subject of family.
Who are some of the otherconnections you have?
And we talked a lot about thebutler boys, but I know you got
a lot of strong women in yourlife as well and in your family.
(33:13):
So let's give some love to someof the rest of your family.
Coach Butler (33:16):
Uh, my aunt.
My aunt, my auntie Robin.
Love you, Auntie.
When I got the job, uh, youknow, she was the first one to
call me, you know, andcongratulate me.
Um, and told me if I neededanything, that uh, you know,
she'll be there.
And she has done that.
Last year was real tough, youknow.
Still being a first year coach,trying to get it all figured
(33:37):
out.
You know, she helped me run myconcession stand, she cooked for
me.
She stayed hours after hours,helped me, just whatever I
needed.
She's just always in my corner.
So my auntie, you know, a bigshout out to my auntie
Robinette.
Um, again, just supporting meand being there for me for
whatever I need.
So um, you know, my fiancee aswell.
(33:58):
It's real tough, you know,being a coach's wife or
soon-to-be wife.
So her, you know, just with thekids, helping out with the kids
when I got late practices.
Uh I gotta stay late or I'm ina bad mood because one of the
kids pissed me off.
Now I don't want to come homeand cuddle or talk because I'm
upset.
But we just took a loss and shegotta calm me down because I'm
(34:19):
mad.
And she just, you know, day inand day out, she's there for me
and she helps me uh withwhatever I need as far as
paperwork, keeping me honest.
You know, again, another personthat'll tell me if I'm wrong.
Joy Nulisch (34:31):
Yeah, somebody to check me.
Coach Butler (34:32):
Yeah, somebody to check me, keep me, keep me
straight.
So uh shout out to her as well.
My mom, my mother.
Joy Nulisch (34:39):
Yes, let's not forget your mama.
Coach Butler (34:41):
Can't forget the mom, man.
She is she's my rock, man.
Like, you know, when I got thejob, she again, another one.
She's proud of me.
She's always been that type ofmom that's been at all my games,
even when I play loudest,screaming, you know, just just
there supporting me, letting meknow she's there.
And she does the same thingnow, you know, with my kids.
(35:02):
And that's where, again, shejust helps out so much because I
get off of work, and you know,the kids need to be picked up.
Um, so she helps me out withthat a lot.
Like she makes sure the kidsare good.
And then once I'm done withpractice or whatever I need,
I'll just go pick the kids upfrom her.
So, but it also, you know, sheenjoys it, you know, being able
to bond with my children, andyou know, and they love her.
(35:24):
Like, you know, Grammy, so theythey love being with her.
So my mother, you know, I mean,as far as women, you know,
those are the three that at thetop.
Joy Nulisch (35:34):
Yeah, as as they should be.
And you you mentioned youmentioned your fiance soon to be
wife.
You guys are raising a familytogether.
So you're you're amulti-generation conch.
Now you got your own familythat you're raising.
What are some of those conchtraditions that you want to
instill in your children?
Coach Butler (35:54):
Just the pride, man, just to be prideful.
Um, you know, just good, good,good athletes, good, be good
sportsmen, um, you know,respectful kids, but compete,
you know, at a high level andjust know what it means to play
for something, you know, biggerthan yourself.
It's like we're a small,tight-knit community here
(36:15):
compared to all the schools thatwe have to play or all the
talent that we have to face.
But I think that I think that'swhat makes us stronger.
And that's just instilling thatin them.
I bring my kids around, theycome to practice with me.
My son loves basketball.
He shoots all day at practice.
Uh, he comes to all my games,they're excited about the game
Friday night.
So they just just keeping themaround the sport and uh letting
(36:38):
them see their dad in action,coaching, letting them see, they
have a really good bond withthe players.
All the players are reallygood.
Like I said, I have a reallygood group of kids.
They love my children, likethey treat my children like
they're little brothers.
Whenever my children comearound, respectful, they help
out, and you know, my kidsreally love them, like they look
look up to them.
So just that tradition of themseeing the older guys in action,
(37:03):
you know, practicing with me,seeing their dad coaching,
they're asking me questions.
I think that right there justinstills the tradition in them
and a discipline, you know, thelove of the game for them will
come.
I don't force them to play ordo anything.
I want them to love itthemselves.
And then uh yeah, that's reallyit.
I think that that's how I goabout it.
That's how I see it.
Joy Nulisch (37:24):
So, coach, I'm gonna go ahead and we're gonna
wrap it up.
I'm gonna ask you two bigquestions, though.
Coach Butler (37:29):
Alright, I'm ready.
Joy Nulisch (37:30):
You ready for it?
Coach Butler (37:31):
Yes.
Joy Nulisch (37:32):
What does conk pride mean to you?
Coach Butler (37:36):
Kunk pride to me is just toughness.
I think when I think conchpride, I just mean I think
toughness.
I think someone that will neverquit.
I think someone that is, again,respectful.
Um someone that is a hardworker, someone that is willing
to do whatever it takes, nomatter what the circumstances
(37:58):
are, what environment they'rein.
You know, yeah, we're a smalltown, yeah, we have this
disadvantage, but we're stillgonna come out here every day
and perform and we're gonna workand we're gonna show you what
we're all about.
So when I think about KunkPride, I think about toughness,
man, just the will to want to bea competitor and compete with
the rest of the world by anymeans necessary.
Joy Nulisch (38:21):
I love that.
That's gonna be a clip too.
Very good.
All right, and the lastquestion what brings you joy?
Coach Butler (38:29):
What brings me joy the most is just building
relationships with the kids,with the with the community,
with everyone.
You know, um, like our corevalues right now with the
program, one of the main thingsis connection.
You know, on the back of thekids' uh warm-ups, it says
connected.
And we're trying to allconstantly find ways to connect
(38:50):
with each other and connect withthe community and everywhere.
So I think that just buildingrelationships, you know.
I have a bunch of kids thatreach out to me to this day that
I coached, you know, and I'veimpacted their lives in a way
where they feel like, you know,I'm someone important to them.
I think just that that bringsme joy.
Seeing kids succeed, obviously,and you know, chase their
(39:11):
dreams and be successful inthat, knowing that, you know,
they're able to do somethingthat they want to do, and I'm
just there to help them.
Basketball brings me joy.
Coaching, being with my family,kids, like just normal things
like that, you know.
But uh, yeah, definitely in thebasketball sense, just seeing
kids, you know, chase theirdreams and be successful and
(39:31):
building relationships with themthat last, you know, long past
them being in high school.
You know, we'll be we'll befriends and family forever.
Joy Nulisch (39:41):
Coach Key West High School basketball is lucky to
have you.
Key West is lucky to have you.
I'm a big fan.
Coach Butler (39:48):
Thank you.
Joy Nulisch (39:49):
I really enjoyed our conversation.
I I want to end with one thing.
I wasn't sure if I was gonnamention this or not, but I told
you the other day I knew yourdaddy.
Yes, we we worked together atthe school district, but mostly
our connection came throughsports and photography.
Your daddy was a greatphotographer, and he and I
worked in the photo labs back inthe day when they used to be
(40:12):
photo labs, yeah.
And uh, so that's that was ourconnection together.
And whenever he saw me, he'dsay, Joy is joyous one, make a
joyful noise.
And uh it's my hope, it's mywish that he's hearing this
joyful noise that you and I arehaving in this conversation.
Coach Butler (40:32):
For sure, for sure.
He's around for sure.
Joy Nulisch (40:34):
Shining the light on you and the program and the
butler family.
I I hope from our mouth to hisears that he's able to hear this
joyful noise.
Coach Butler (40:43):
For sure.
Joy Nulisch (40:44):
Thank you, Coach.
Coach Butler (40:46):
Thank you, thank you for having me.
Joy Nulisch (40:47):
Go conks.
Coach Butler (40:48):
Go conks.
Joy Nulisch (40:49):
This episode is sponsored by Ramonis, promoting
conk pride since 1971.
I'm Joy Newleich, and Iappreciate you tuning into my
podcast.
My purpose is to bring joy intomy life and the lives of
others.
If you enjoyed this episode,drop a review, share, and
subscribe because there's a lotof good stuff on tap.
You can also follow Bring Joyon YouTube and Instagram, or
(41:10):
check my website atjoynoolish.com.
Now go bring joy to the peoplein your world.
Until next time, much.
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