UDC Head Women’s Basketball Coach Lester L. Butler, Jr., is Women's D2 Bulletin Coach of the Month for January 2009

Washington, DC—Lester L. Butler, Jr., Head Women’s Basketball Coach at the University of the District of Columbia is the Women’s Division II Bulletin Coach of the Month for January 2009. The citation was made in recognition of his having led the Firebirds to a 6-0 mark during the month to push the team’s record to 15-2 and a No. 18 ranking. Wins came against such regional foes as Mansfield, Mercy and Bowie State.

The Firebirds are  ranked No. 5 in the NCAA Division II Atlantic Region in the first week of the ranking season. UDC has also been ranked as the top women’s basketball team in the country among Division II HBCU schools in the Heritage Sports Network Power Rankings for the week of January 29th.

The team returned to action for the 2008-2009 season under 5th year Head Coach Butler, who was named the 2007-08 Independent Collegiate Athletic Association(ICAA) Coach of the Year. UDC finished their 2007-2008 season with an Independent School Division II National Championship and an overall record of 21-8. The 21 wins are the most by a Firebirds team in more than 10 years. The Firebirds finished the season ranked in the top 30 in scoring defense, giving up only 57ppg to opponents and scoring over 65ppg.

UDC defeated Bloomfield College last night, to raise their record to 16-2, and extend their win streak to nine games. Their next opponent will be across town rivals Columbia Union College, in a game that has been moved from their Takoma Park, Maryland campus to the UDC Physical Activities Center, on Saturday, January 31, at 7 p.m.