Colleges

Florida women in a rush to rebuild

New basketball coach Amanda Butler brings an up-tempo mind-set to  Gainesville.

By ANTONYA ENGLISH
Published November 6, 2007

Amanda Butler played point guard from 1990-94, when the Gators made their first two NCAA Tournament appearances. UF won nine games last season.
	[Charlotte Observer (2005)]

ADVERTISEMENT [AP photo] Florida women's basketball coach Amanda Butler speaks to media during the Southeastern Conference Basketball Media Day in Birmingham, Ala.

GAINESVILLE - When she was hired as the Florida women's basketball coach in April, Amanda Butler called it a dream come true. Seven months later, she'd like to revise that statement a little, if you don't mind.

"Part of that is true," Butler said recently. "I have revised that in the past six months to say that it is the beginning of a dream. Our dream will come true when we are actually cutting down nets and we are putting those crystal balls in the trophy case and have a lot to cheer for."

This week, Butler, 35, officially begins her quest to make that happen. But it wasn't until she walked across the O'Connell Center floor for the first time Oct. 21 that the reality of it all finally hit her.

This is her team now. This is her program to rebuild and set on a path to a championship that has eluded it for so many years.

"It was the first time with the floor down, and I was walking across the floor, I was like, 'This is it, this is it. We're about to roll here now, aren't we?' It was an incredible feeling. I've said it over and over again, and I will continue to say it every year, that I am blessed with the opportunity to coach here: I have as much, if not more pride, than anybody who's ever worn the uniform or had the advantage and privilege of attending this university."

As a point guard from 1990-94, Butler was part of the Gators' first two NCAA Tournament teams, but she jokes that she doesn't mention her playing days as often as you might think "because I was not that great of a player."

But she says she coaches the same way she played - with intensity and a great amount of pride - which her players have embraced.

"She's fun and young," junior guard Kim Critton said. "She's been there, and all of us are young, too, and we like having a new, young coach. It's never dead. It's always vibrant. And it's always a fast-paced thing."

"She's energetic, and it's rubbing off on us already," junior forward Marshae Dotson said. "With her, we're going to be very different team, up-tempo. Just get it and go. If you make mistakes, you're going to make mistakes. If I throw the ball away, it's okay, go get it back on defense and bring it right back at them."

Butler inherited a team that won just nine games last season, only two conference games. But she walked in on players who were fiercely loyal to former coach Carolyn Peck. Her approach in easing the transition formed a bond the players think will be beneficial in the rebuilding effort.

"I know for her it wasn't easy because she brought her whole coaching staff to a group of girls that only knew one way of doing things," Critton said. "It wasn't easy, but all of us have come to an agreement that this is where we want to go, and she has the best ideas and is going to show us the best way to get there.'

Since arriving in Gainesville, Butler has spent countless hours recruiting and visiting local clubs, retirement homes, anywhere she can sell Florida women's basketball. She's already picked up several big-name recruits for next season. As for the fans, she's made but one promise - for now.

If they come, they'll want to come back.

"No question, we're going to put a product on the floor that will make our fans proud," Butler said.

Antonya English can be reached at english@sptimes.com.

[Last modified November 6, 2007, 00:43:39]