Bio

Brandon native and former Mississippi State University basketball player Isaiah Butler is in his second year as East Mississippi Community College’s head women’s basketball coach.

Butler’s initial EMCC women’s basketball club earned an NJCAA Region 23 Tournament appearance and compiled a 3.25 team grade point average, while sending along sophomore guards Sadie Williams (Mississippi Valley State) and DJ Williams (Stillman College) to the four-year level.

Butler succeeded current EMCC Director of Athletics Sharon Thompson, who retired from her women’s coaching position following the 2021-22 season after 17 successful years at the helm to concentrate on her administrative responsibilities.

An up-and-coming collegiate basketball coach, Butler previously spent four seasons as the associate head women’s basketball coach on Stephanie Murphy’s coaching staff that collectively turned around the program at Coahoma Community College. The Lady Tigers put together a composite record of 36-10 during a successful two-year span as one of the top teams in the Mississippi Association of Community Colleges Conference.

While having previously assisted Murphy in all aspects of the day-to-day coaching responsibilities at Coahoma on and off the basketball court, Butler helped instill a winning culture among the CCC players within a program that improved from a seven-win season in 2018-19 to a 21-7 squad that finished as 2022 MACCC Tournament runners-up and NJCAA Region 23 Tournament semifinalists. The year prior during the pandemic-altered 2020-21 season, the Lady Tigers rode a 14-game winning streak to finish as MACCC co-champions and Region 23 Tournament runners-up.

Noted for his player development success as well as sending talent to the next level, Butler also played a major role in helping develop back-to-back conference player of the year recipients Nakia Cheatham (2021-22 MACCC MVP) and Jurnee McLaurin (2020-21 MACCC North POTY) at Coahoma. Cheatham and fellow CCC standout Ashanti Backus signed with Alcorn State in 2022, while McLaurin and Mary Wilkins competed collegiately at Grambling State. In addition, Ayani Cockrell (Dillard University), Geonna Marshall (Tougaloo College) and the Lane College tandem of Brailyn Tate and Iitasha Paty have all played at the four-year level.

Butler’s college coaching experience began when he served as a graduate assistant on the Mississippi College women’s basketball coaching staff during the 2016-17 season.

Prior to joining the coaching ranks, Butler earned a scholarship at Mississippi State after starting his college career as a walk-on forward for the Bulldogs. The former practice player earned an athletic scholarship during his final semester of his senior year. Butler completed his bachelor’s degree in interdisciplinary studies with concentrations in kinesiology, psychology and history. During his senior year, Butler was awarded MSU’s Scholar-Athlete of the Year Award for men’s basketball and was selected as a 2014-15 SEC Community Service team member.

Butler has also worked as a personal trainer and skills development coach since 2015, which have proved invaluable during strength and conditioning team workouts and individual skill development sessions throughout his rising coaching career.

Born in Fort Polk, La., Butler attended Brandon (Miss.) High School and participated in basketball and track. As a prep senior, he helped lead the Brandon Bulldogs to a 24-7 record and an appearance in the Class 6A South State championship game. He also was a member of Brandon’s 2010 track and field team that claimed the 2010 MHSAA Class 6A State championship.

Butler is married to the former Adrianna Neal, of Brandon, and they are the proud parents of a 3-year-old son, Eli.