Butler hires former player Ronald Nored as men's basketball coach

Butler named Ronald Nored as its next men's basketball coach Wednesday, March 25. Nored, 36, will be the 25th coach in program history, replacing Thad Matta after his retirement following the 2025-26 season. Nored is first coach hired by athletic director Grant Leiendecker, a former Butler basketball player who took over for outgoing AD Barry Collier in December of 2024.

Nored told the Atlanta Hawks, where he was an assistant coach, Wednesday morning, Leiendecker sharing a photo of the moment on Twitter. "The term ‘dream job’ doesn’t do justice to how I feel about the opportunity to lead the Butler program," Nored said in a release. " Butler is an incredibly special place.

As a player, I poured blood, sweat and tears into this program. No one appreciates both the responsibility and the potential that comes with this position more than me. Passionate fans, Hinkle Fieldhouse, the Big East, storied tradition, a world-class education, a thriving city … there is incredible momentum at Butler right now and I can’t wait to hit the ground running as we elevate Butler to new heights.

" Nored emerged as a candidate to replace Matta due to his strong relationship with Leiendecker. Nored and Leiendecker played together at Butler for three seasons, including Butler's back-to-back national championship runner-up teams in 2010 and 2011. Of the potential coaching candidates , Nored was the only one without head-coaching experience at the college level, but his relationship with Leiendecker provides a level of familiarity and comfort for the AD.