John Butash

John Butash was named Head Softball Coach in June 2018 after serving as assistant coach since 2014.  Butash brings 20-plus years of coaching experience to the Pacers’ dugout.  In his first season as Assistant, Butash made an immediate impact with the program, helping guide the Pacers to the 2014 CSAC Championship and an NCAA tournament berth. 

In the 2024 season, the Pacers finished with 24 wins on the season. Marywood made it to the Atlantic East Conference Championship game but unplayable field conditions ended Pacers' softball season as Atlantic East Conference runner-ups. 

During the 2023 season, Butash led the Pacers to 27 wins, tied for second most wins in program history after setting the mark in 2022 with 28. The Pacers also finished as Atlantic East Conference runner-ups. 

In 2022, Butash led the Pacers to a record-setting season, finishing with a school record 28-wins, an Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) Championships and an Atlantic East Conference runner-up finish. Butash and his coaching staff was named 2022 Atlantic East Conference Coaching Staff of the Year.

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. 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 Scranton Prep baseball team and went on to become a Middle Atlantic Conference All-Star at the University of Scranton. 

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

In addition to 34 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 and student teachers from the Pre-K through High School from 2011-2020, and has taught numerous courses at Marywood both as a Mathematics Instructor (Act 101 program, 1987-2011) and Distance Learning Instructor (1987-91).    

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

Butash at Marywood (year-by-year):

Year Overall/Conference Record Honors
2019              19-22 (.463) overall / 4-6 (.400) AEC                 AEC Playoffs
*2020  4-4 (.500) overall / 0-0 (.000) AEC
2021  9-8 (.529) overall / 6-6 (.500) AEC AEC Playoffs
2022 28-9 (757) overall / 11-1 (.917) AEC ECAC Champions, AEC Runner-Up, AEC Playoffs, AEC Coaching Staff of the Year 
2023 27-18 (.600) overall / 8-4 (.667) AEC  ECAC Runner-Up, AEC Runner-Up, AEC Playoffs
2024   24-16 (.600) overall / 6-6 (.500) AEC AEC Runner-Up, AEC Playoffs
*Spring 2020 season was canceled March 13, 2020 due to COVID-19 pandemic

CAREER TOTALS:
 
*6 seasons      111-77 (.590) overall / *35-23 (.603) AEC               

*Spring 2020 conference season was canceled March 13, 2020 due to COVID-19 pandemic