Butash Named Head Softball Coach

Scranton, Pa. - John Butash, an assistant coach for five seasons with the softball program, has been named Head Coach according to announcement from Dr. Mary Jo Gunning, Director of Athletics and Recreation. Butash replaces Bob Fitzsimmons, who announced his retirement at the end of the 2018 season after 16 seasons as the Pacers' top mentor.

Butash brings 25-plus years of coaching experience to the Pacers' dugout. In his first season as Assistant with the team in 2014, Butash made an immediate impact with the program, helping guide the Pacers to a CSAC Championship and an NCAA tournament berth.

From 1990-2010, Butash served as a volunteer Softball Coach with the Throop Booster Club where he coached teams ranging in ages and ability level from T-Ball to U-17. In addition to his coaching duties with the program, Butash maintained the field in and out of season and organized concession stand volunteers and finances. He was an active member of the Booster Club during this time.

From 2005-2010 Butash served as the Mid Valley Head Softball Coach during the fall season. A church lector at the Blessed Sacrament Parish in Throop since 1980, Butash received the Excellence in Education Award presented by College Misericordia in 2006 and was acknowledged for dedicated service to the Lourdesmont High School students from 1977-2006 with an Appreciation Award in 2006.

In his playing days, Butash was the team captain of the 1973 Scranton Prep baseball team and went on to become a Middle Atlantic Conference All-Star at the University of Scranton in 1977.

Butash graduated from the University of Scranton with a Bachelor of Science degree in Secondary Education (Mathematics) in 1977 and earned a Pennsylvania Certification in Mentally and/or Physically Handicapped from Marywood College in 1986.

In addition to 22 years as an Emotional Support Teacher with NEIU-19 at Lourdesmont High School in Clarks Summit, Butash has been associated with Marywood as a University Supervisor for practicum students from the Pre-K through High School levels since 2011 and has taught numerous courses at Marywood both as a Mathematics Instructor (Act 101 program, 1987-2011) and Distance Learning Instructor (1990-91).

Butash's daughter, Diana, was a key component of Marywood's 2014 CSAC Championship and NCAA tournament team.

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