[“I’m 81, but I could still go back and coach,” Butt said, jokingly. “Look at Jerry Hoover down at Blackford.”
Hoover, 83, is in his first season at Blackford and has led the Bruins to a 9-4 mark, which is eight more wins than the last three seasons combined.
Butt is not headed back to coaching, although I have no doubt he has the energy to do so. He is, however, returning to old stomping grounds tonight. Butt will be inducted into the Lakeland High School Hall of Fame tonight at the school, an overdue honor for his nine years of building the foundation of the Lakers boys basketball program. Butt took over newly consolidated Lakeland in 1964-65 and led it to three sectional titles.
One of his former Lakeland players, Dennis Harp, tipped me off to Butt’s induction. As I read Butt’s resume, visions of sold-out gyms and single-class basketball jumped to life in my head. The fact Butt coached the team from Liberty Center, the small town where I grew up, in that legendary nine-overtime game stoked my curiosity even more.
I called Butt and asked if he’d be willing to talk. He invited me over. Best morning of my week.]
http://www.news-sentinel.com/sports/2018/01/26/reggie-hayes-richard-butt-and-hoosier-hysteria-from-liberty-center-to-lakeland-to-leo/
Hoover, 83, is in his first season at Blackford and has led the Bruins to a 9-4 mark, which is eight more wins than the last three seasons combined.
Butt is not headed back to coaching, although I have no doubt he has the energy to do so. He is, however, returning to old stomping grounds tonight. Butt will be inducted into the Lakeland High School Hall of Fame tonight at the school, an overdue honor for his nine years of building the foundation of the Lakers boys basketball program. Butt took over newly consolidated Lakeland in 1964-65 and led it to three sectional titles.
One of his former Lakeland players, Dennis Harp, tipped me off to Butt’s induction. As I read Butt’s resume, visions of sold-out gyms and single-class basketball jumped to life in my head. The fact Butt coached the team from Liberty Center, the small town where I grew up, in that legendary nine-overtime game stoked my curiosity even more.
I called Butt and asked if he’d be willing to talk. He invited me over. Best morning of my week.]
http://www.news-sentinel.com/sports/2018/01/26/reggie-hayes-richard-butt-and-hoosier-hysteria-from-liberty-center-to-lakeland-to-leo/
