Latrobe’s all-time leading scorer in line for Hempfield boys basketball coaching position

By: Bill Beckner Jr.
Friday, May 16, 2025 | 1:55 PM

Austin Butler used to enjoy playing basketball against Hempfield. The high-scoring guard from Latrobe had some intense games against the Spartans.

Now, he could be coaching them.

According to the school board agenda for Monday’s meeting, Hempfield will vote to hire Butler as boys basketball coach.

If approved, the 26-year-old will replace Bill Swan, who resigned last season after he was investigated by the district and state police for undisclosed reasons.

Mark Katarski took over as interim coach at Hempfield last season when Swan was out. Katarski coached the final eight games.

New to high school coaching, Butler is Latrobe’s all-time leading scorer with 1,905 career points. The former TribLive Westmoreland Player of the Year played four seasons at Holy Cross and one at Charlotte before playing professionally for three years in Finland and Belgium.

Most recently, he played and drew a salary with USA Basketball on the 3-v-3 circuit.

Butler, who also scored more than 1,000 points in college, has done personal training with players in the area of late and has filled in as a substitute teacher at Latrobe. His coaching experience is at the AAU level with PK Flash.

Coaching runs in his family. His father, Eric, is a longtime assistant to Brad Wetzel at Latrobe. His brother, Bryce, is an assistant at West Liberty.

Michele Butler, Austin’s mother, has been an assistant track and field coach at Latrobe.

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

Tags: Hempfield