Former Latrobe basketball star Austin Butler settles into new role as Hempfield coach

By: Bill Beckner Jr.
Thursday, June 26, 2025 | 11:05 PM

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Granted, it was a low-key summer tournament game on just his 38th day on the job, but Austin Butler’s stomach didn’t seem to be in knots when he took the floor to coach Thursday night at Jeannette.

He looked different somehow in Hempfield blue and white, but he was in his element nonetheless.

A rookie again, the former Latrobe star was cool and calm, poised and composed, like he’d done this before as he guided the Spartans at the 5th Annual Tre Cunningham Memorial Tournament — a fine tribute to the late Jeannette three-sport athlete who once again was remembered fondly on opening night of the three-day tournament on Lou Seiler Court.

Butler played at the NCAA Division I level at Holy Cross and Charlotte and was a professional overseas in Belgium and Finland and with USA Basketball’s 3v3 and 5v5, so he’s used to big-game pressure.

But playing experience only goes so far, and coaching doesn’t come with a manual. A chef might be able to cook but can’t always run a restaurant.

This is, after all, a 26-year-old taking on his first head coaching job in the WPIAL’s largest classification (6A).

“We have taken huge steps forward,” said Butler, who has Latrobe’s boys scoring record with 1,905 points. “But there is a lot to go.

“We have a lot of guys. We’re going four or five times a week (for practice), and we have summer league. We’ve had 25 to 30 guys at practices, sophomores, juniors and seniors, even with guys playing other sports. Numbers have not been a problem.”

Neither have wins. Again, it is summer when few are watching and teams are not at full strength, but Hempfield is winning, and players seem to be taking to Butler as he implements his system.

The Spartans won by 20 over Connellsville in Butler’s first unofficial game since replacing Bill Swan, the veteran coach who resigned after last season after an investigation into the program. Hempfield will play Norwin next week in the semifinals of the Greensburg YMCA summer league.

Hempfield even beat Latrobe in league play with Butler coaching against his former coach, Brad Wetzel — and his father, assistant Eric Butler.

Hempfield played at a West Liberty team camp run by Bryce Butler, Austin’s brother who also starred at Latrobe and at West Liberty.

Hempfield coasted to a 58-39 win over Ringgold on Thursday as Tre Cunningham pool play began with four games.

There are six games Friday — at Jeannette high school and elementary school — before a nine-team, single-elimination tournament tips Saturday morning at the high school.

If Hempfield makes a run at the title, it will probably come out of the fastest heat.

“Practices are a little different, we’re more up and down,” Hempfield senior guard Danny Husenits said. “Our playing style is more fluent.”

Swan coached his teams to run crisp, clean offensive sets to create the best scoring opportunities and keep the ball away from opponents. Butler wants to run.

Said Spartans sophomore forward Lucas Simmons: “We get it and go.”

Sounds like Latrobe, which has tormented teams for years with Wetzel’s uptempo pace.

“There’s some Latrobe there, for sure,” Austin Butler said. “It’s not so much about X’s and O’s right now. It’s more about effort and instilling habits. Habits wear off in practice and games.”

Butler, whose family was on hand to support him — mom, dad, all three brothers — said he is cognizant of each player’s skills, needs and limitations.

“The biggest thing after I met the guys was, I wanted them to feel out what we want to do,” the coach said. “I want to see how they want to be coached. I like to joke with the kids, but you also have to establish boundaries. I like to be coached hard, and I was with my dad on staff. It helped me.”

Eric Butler appears to be staying with Wetzel at Latrobe, at least for now, and does not plan to join his son at Hempfield.

Two assistants are pending board approval in Kason Harrell, Hempfield’s all-time leading scorer, and Norwin alum Dante Rizzo. Harrell is back in the states after another pro season in Ireland.

“I know it’s not all going to happen overnight,” Butler said. “I want our guys to show up every day and make daily deposits.”

5th Annual Tre Cunningham Memorial Basketball Tournament

Opening night scores

Imani Christian 47, Norwin 46

Hempfield 58, Ringgold 39

Jeannette 46, Greensburg Salem 40

Imani Christian 65, Ringgold 38

Friday’s schedule

At Jeannette High School

Geibel at Indiana, 6 p.m.

Belle Vernon vs. Jeannette, 7 p.m.

Indiana vs. Hempfield, 8 p.m.

Monessen vs. Norwin, 9 p.m.

At Jeannette Elementary School

Monessen vs. Greensburg Salem, 7:30 p.m.

Geibel vs. Belle Vernon, 8:30 p.m.

Bill Beckner Jr. is a TribLive reporter covering local sports in Westmoreland County. He can be reached at bbeckner@triblive.com.

Tags: Hempfield