Janet Butler was named the program's assistant coach and recruiting coordinator by head coach Doshia Woods on May 27, 2025, and will begin her first season with the program in 2025-26.
Butler arrives in Denver with 14 years of Division I experience, including most recently a season as an assistant coach at Fordham and four seasons on the women’s basketball staff at Tulane.
“I am extremely excited to welcome Janet to our program,” Woods said. “Coach Butler’s passion, experience and energy will be a great addition to our staff. Her ability to recruit, connect and develop players will help us continue to make progress in The Summit League. I am thrilled to welcome Coach Butler to our Pioneer family.”
Butler coached all-conference selection Taylor Donaldson who averaged 16.3 points per game and led Fordham to a 15-15 record last season, including a 10-4 mark at home.
Prior to her time at Fordham, Butler spent one season as an assistant coach at Tulane following three years with the Green Wave (2020-23) as the assistant director for student-athlete development and video. In her four years, Butler helped Tulane earn three postseason berths (2021, 2022, 2023 WNIT).
The Louisiana native was a 2017-18 Women's Basketball Coaches' Association (WBCA) Thirty Under 30 honoree and brings extensive knowledge to Denver from her stints at Summit League opponent Omaha (2018-20), Monmouth (2017-18), Nevada (2012-17) and Louisiana Monroe (2011-12).
Butler played collegiately at Louisiana College, where she was a two-time co-captain and a three-time American Southwest Conference All-Academic selection. She helped her team to back-to-back American Southwest Conference regular season titles, as well as berths to the NCAA Division III National Tournament in 2009-10 and 2010-11. Following her playing career, she was selected as a member of the WBCA's "So You Want To Be a Coach" Program in 2011.
A native of Eros, La., Butler earned her degree in health & physical education with teacher certification from Louisiana College in 2011. Butler continued her education and earned her master's degree in educational leadership from Nevada in 2014.
Butler's College Coaching Career
2024-25 - Assistant Coach - Fordham
2023-24 - Assistant Coach - Tulane
2020-23 - Director of Student-Athlete Development and Video - Tulane
2018-20 - Assistant Coach - Omaha
2017-18 - Assistant Coach - Monmouth
2015-17 - Assistant Coach - Nevada
2013-15 - Director of Operations - Nevada
2012-13 - Graduate Assistant Coach - Nevada
2011-12 - Assistant Coach - Louisiana Monroe
