One of the top coaches in the East Region, University of the District of Columbia head women’s basketball coach Lester L. Butler, Jr. has enjoyed outstanding success at the Division II level over a career that has spanned seven seasons. Since his hiring in 2003, Butler has changed both the perception and quality of the District of Columbia women’s basketball program. Bringing stability, vision and a love for the game, Butler has earned the respect of his opponents while establishing Firebird women’s basketball as a competitive force in Division II.

In his seven seasons as head coach at UDC, Butler has amassed 100 wins, two Independent Collegiate Athletic Association (ICAA) national championships, two ICAA Coach of the Year awards and one NCAA Tournament appearance. He enjoyed two of his finest seasons in 2007-08 and 2008-09 when the Firebirds were a combined 45-13, including a school-record 24 wins and a No. 17 national ranking in the latter year, as they went on to win two straight ICAA Division II National Championships.  The team also won a school-record 19 straight games at home, starting with the final six home games in 2007-08 and ending with a perfect 13-0 home record in 2008-09.

The team finished the 2010-11 campaign with a record of 19-9 and finished the season by celebrating “Senior Day” with an 84-60 trumping of the Urbana University Blue Knights for third place in the 2011 Independent Invitational Women’s Basketball Classic, and Butler earned his 100^th career coaching victory.

Butler has coached two 1,000-point scorers at UDC including Jaime Brown (’06) and Lilian McGill (’11). Brown was the first-ever 1,000-point scorer in the history of the program, and accomplished the feat in just three year’s time. McGill finished her outstanding four-year career with over 1,400 points and 1,100 rebounds. She was a part of 78 UDC wins throughout her career, which is the most of any player under Butler.

Butler and the Firebirds enter the 2011-12 season as inaugural members of the East Coast Conference. They look to continue their winning ways as a member of a league whose tournament champion receives an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.

Butler began his coaching career at Virginia Union as a volunteer assistant while he finished his undergraduate degree working with the team's guards from 1996-1998. After graduating from Virginia Union, Butler served as head junior varsity and assistant varsity coach at Bladensburg High from 1999-2001.

Prior to becoming head coach at UDC, he served as an assistant coach for two seasons. He was responsible for travel, scouting, working with the guards, pre-season conditioning, academic coordinating, and various other duties. He also served as the recruiting coordinator and signed four Junior College All-Americans, a 2nd Team All-ICAA selection, and a 1,000-point career scorer in his short stint as assistant at UDC.

A 1998 graduate of Virginia Union University with a degree in criminal justice, Butler played for legendary coach Dave Robbins, and was a key member of the Panther basketball program. He helped Virginia Union capture three straight CIAA championships and make four NCAA Division II appearances. In 1996, Butler's senior season, he guided the team to the NCAA Division II Final Four. Butler finished his career at Virginia Union tied for the most wins with a (107-14) won-loss record. Butler served as team captain from (1994-1996). 

A native of Washington D.C., Butler graduated from Archbishop Carroll High in 1992 where he earned All-Metro honors and Honorable Mention All-American.

Butler is a member of various organizations including the Women's Basketball Coaches Association and the Black Coaches Association. He resides in Upper Marlboro, MD with his wife, Chae, and their two children, Jatae and Sam.

Office Phone: (202) 274-5083
E-mail: lbutler@udc.edu