Winston-Salem State hires Jay Butler as basketball coach

VIRGINIA UNION ATHLETICS

Jay Butler, who coached Virginia Union to four Division II tournament berths and the 2018 CIAA title, has been named to the same position at Winston-Salem State.

Jay Butler, who coached Virginia Union to four NCAA Division II tournament berths and a CIAA title, is moving to a conference rival.

Butler, who was hired by Winston-Salem State, is one of the CIAA’s most successful coaches in the last decade. His final VUU team went 25-6 in the and earned an at-large playoff berth with a win against West Liberty in the first round. Butler, who shared the 2025-26 Atlantic Region Coach of the Year award given by the National Association of Basketball Coaches, has a 372-239 record over 20 seasons, including the 2018 CIAA title. He coached VUU, his alma mater, for 11 seasons.

“WSSU has a proud tradition, passionate supporters and a strong commitment to student success,” Butler said in a statement. “I look forward to building a championship culture that reflects the values of this university and prepares our student-athletes for success on and off the court. I am deeply aware of the legacy that has been built here, and I am committed to honoring that tradition while building something this community is proud of for years to come.”

Butler succeeds Corey Thompson, who was fired on Feb. 14. The Rams have struggled the last two season since Cleo Hill Jr. left for Division I Maryland Eastern Shore with a 12-41 record, and only four wins against CIAA opponents. 

Butler, who earned the CIAA Coach of the Year award for the third time, and the HBCU Jerry Johnson NCAA Division II National Coach of the Year this season, has coached teams to nine 20-win campaigns and eight playoff appearances. 

Before taking the Virginia Union job, Butler coached University of District of Columbia women’s basketball for 11 seasons, where the Firebirds won 177 games, two Independent Collegiate Athletic Association national titles and advanced to four NCAA tournaments. His best season at UDC was in 2014-15 when the Firebirds won a school-record 25 games and finished No. 22 in the national rankings.  

“Jay Butler brings a wealth of experience and a strong track record of success,” Eric Burns, WSSU’s interim director of athletics, said in a statement. “Throughout this national search, we sought a leader who could elevate our program competitively while developing young men both in competition and in life. Coach Butler embodies those qualities, and we are excited to welcome him to Ram Nation.”

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