Jay Butler enters his fifth season as Assistant Director of Athletics for Strength and Conditioning and ninth overall as Head Football Strength and Conditioning Coach.
His vast knowledge in the areas of strength and conditioning has helped the Scarlet Knights make remarkable strides in the weight room and on the field. Butler and his staff employ a tireless work ethic and demanding approach to ensure that the members of the Rutgers football program continue to grow and develop during their time “On the Banks.” For his steady commitment, Butler was recognized in the March 2007 issue of American Football Monthly as Samson's Division I-A Strength and Conditioning Coach of the Year.
Butler’s drive to push players in the weight room has been embraced and its benefits have paid off for several Scarlet Knights who have made the seamless transition into the National Football League. The consistent upgrades on the field as well as in the weight room were clearly evident in the 2009 NFL Draft, with a school-record five former players being selected.
Butler, who earned a Mechanical Engineering degree from Bucknell University in 1991, designed the state-of-the-art, 15,500 square foot strength and conditioning facility in the expanded Hale Center. He incorporated the latest technologies, including digital video analysis, a 60-yard FieldTurf track and other amenities for developing the complete football player.
He has helped mold numerous players into professional athletes, several of which are currently enjoying successful careers in the National Football League, including former standout Gary Brackett of the Super Bowl XLI Champion Indianapolis Colts. The latest crop of players to benefit from Butler’s highly-regarded strength and conditioning program includes Brian Leonard, Cameron Stephenson and Clark Harris, who were each selected in the 2007 NFL Draft.
Butler is a 1987 graduate of nearby Hillsborough High School, where he excelled in both football and baseball. He went on to be a three-year starter and two-time All-American offensive tackle at Bucknell University, before playing two seasons on the professional level.
Butler and his wife, Jo Ann, are the proud parents of four daughters, Kylie, Casey, Sydney and Katherine.
