Latest update: March 23, 2026, 8:25 p.m. ET
- Butler University is nearing the conclusion of its search for a new men’s basketball head coach.
- An announcement regarding the decision is anticipated for the middle or latter part of this week.
- Travis Steele, the Miami (Ohio) coach and Butler alumnus, is reportedly no longer being considered for the position.
A week has passed since Thad Matta unexpectedly stepped down as the Butler basketball coach, and the university’s premier coaching role remains vacant.
With the college basketball coaching circuit still active, we provide the most recent information regarding Butler‘s quest to find their new leader.
Decision Nearing
According to an IndyStar source with close ties to Butler, the coaching selection process, overseen by athletic director Grant Leiendecker, is nearing completion, with an announcement anticipated by the middle to end of the current week.
Below is an overview of the rumored candidates.
Travis Steele
A source familiar with the coaching search informed the USA TODAY Network that Travis Steele, head coach at Miami (Ohio), is reportedly no longer a contender for the Butler coaching position. While it’s unknown if Steele received an offer, the Danville native and Butler alumnus reportedly lacks the same level of internal backing as other prospective coaches.
John Groce
John Groce, currently coaching at Akron, is backed by at least one key figure within Butler’s influential circles. Hailing from Muncie, Groce previously served as an assistant coach for Butler under Thad Matta during the 2000-01 season. His tenure with Matta continued at Xavier from 2001 to 2004, and then at Ohio State as an assistant from 2004 to 2008, after which he became head coach at Ohio.
Since assuming leadership of Akron in 2017, Groce has guided the Zips to their third consecutive NCAA Tournament bid this season, marking their fourth appearance in five years. Over nine seasons at Akron, Groce holds a 197-94 record. His overall coaching career, spanning Ohio, Illinois, and Akron, stands at 377-225.
Ronald Nored
Ronald Nored, an assistant coach for the Atlanta Hawks, shared the court with Leiendecker at Butler for three seasons, a period that included the Bulldogs’ consecutive national championship runner-up finishes in 2010 and 2011. Among the prospective candidates, Nored is unique in lacking prior head-coaching experience. However, his existing rapport with Leiendecker offers a valuable degree of familiarity and ease for the Athletic Director, particularly as this marks his initial search for a men’s basketball head coach.
Nored’s coaching journey began with a season at Brownsburg High School in 2012-13. He then served as an assistant at Northern Kentucky during the 2015-16 season. His subsequent coaching roles have been as an assistant in both the G League and the NBA.
Micah Shrewsberry
Per a source, Notre Dame coach Micah Shrewsberry is also a strong candidate being considered for the head coaching role at Butler. A significant hurdle in recruiting Shrewsberry would be the buyout agreement required between Butler and Notre Dame. In 2023, Jeff Goodman stated that Shrewsberry inked a seven-year contract with Notre Dame, reportedly valued at “well over $4 million per year.”
Shrewsberry’s current contract would still have four years left, and the specifics of his buyout clause are not disclosed. In his three seasons as Notre Dame’s coach, Shrewsberry has compiled a 41-56 record. An Indianapolis native, Cathedral alumnus, and former Butler assistant, he joined Notre Dame following two seasons at Penn State. In 2023, Shrewsberry guided the Nittany Lions to a 23-14 record and advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament.
Chris Holtmann
According to a source, DePaul coach Chris Holtmann represents another potential candidate. Holtmann previously served as Butler’s head coach for three seasons before taking over for Matta at Ohio State. His impressive .693 winning percentage is surpassed only by Brad Stevens’ .772 among all Butler coaches over the past century.
Holtmann worked as an assistant under Groce at Ohio from 2008 to 2010. Following that, he spent three seasons as Gardner-Webb’s head coach before joining Butler as an assistant under Brandon Miller. In October 2014, Holtmann assumed the role of interim coach at Butler, eventually being appointed head coach in January 2015. In his two seasons at DePaul, Holtmann holds a 30-36 record. His overall career coaching record, encompassing stints at Gardner-Webb, Butler, Ohio State, and DePaul, is 281-207.