Former Latrobe standout Austin Butler hired as Hempfield boys basketball coach

By: Bill Beckner Jr.
Monday, May 19, 2025 | 9:12 PM

Though his playing career appears to be entering its twilight years, Austin Butler’s coaching career is just stepping into the jump circle.

Butler, the former Latrobe basketball star who played for two Division I programs and professionally overseas, was hired Monday night to be the next coach at Hempfield.

Butler, 26, is Latrobe’s all-time leading scorer with 1,905 points. He played four years at Holy Cross and one at Charlotte before professional stints in Finland and Belgium.

He also played on the 3-on-3 pro circuit for three years.

He takes over a program that was led by Bill Swan until last season, when Swan resigned after an internal and state police investigation into the program. Reasons for the investigation were never disclosed.

Assistant Mark Katarski served as interim coach for the final eight games. The Spartans did not make the WPIAL playoffs.

For Butler, coaching is the next step in his basketball progression.

“It was timing,” Butler said. “I am back in the area after three years overseas and three years in 3×3. I am not saying my shoulder is the reason I am not playing anymore, but after two surgeries, I’m not 100%. I loved playing professionally, but I didn’t love living in Europe.

“I am getting more serious with my girlfriend, and we’re looking for a place in the area. I saw the Hempfield job was open. This was a perfect time to test the waters.”

Butler considered Hempfield a rival when Latrobe and the Spartans played in the same 6A section.

“It’s down the road now,” Butler said. “If (Hempfield and Latrobe) were still in the same class, it would be different. Taking this job is not a dis at Latrobe. Latrobe will always be a special place for me.”

As for the recent controversy surrounding the Hempfield program, Butler said it is time to move on.

“I am not thinking too much about that,” he said. “This is not only a fresh start for me, it’s a fresh start for the players, for everybody. Whatever occurred, playoffs, no playoffs, whatever, this is a unique experience for everyone involved.”

Butler has been training younger players, mainly at Latrobe, and has AAU coaching experience with PK Flash.

His limited coaching resume did not deter him from throwing his name in the hat at a 6A school.

With his breakthrough into coaching, Butler, one of four 1,000-point brothers to play at Latrobe — Bryce, Landon and Max are the others — follows in his family’s footsteps.

His dad, Eric, is a longtime assistant at Latrobe, and his brother, Bryce, is the first assistant on the West Liberty men’s team.

Butler said he is unsure if his father would leave Latrobe to be his assistant.

Austin Butler also considered applying at Mt. Pleasant.

He said the mentoring he received from a number of coaches — Brad Wetzel, Eric Butler, Bret Nelson (Holy Cross), Ron Sanchez (Charlotte), Joe Lewandowski (PK Flash) among them — will help prepare him for what is ahead.

“You have to start somewhere,” he said. “I am not worried about (experience) at all. It’s a learning experience for (the players) and for me.

“I love that I will be able to coach in such a tough 6A section. It’s a great opportunity. I can’t promise wins and losses, but I can promise we’re going to work hard and get better. I have played at the highest levels of basketball. I am an ultra-competitor. I will coach the way I played.”

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

Tags: Hempfield, Latrobe