Armstrong State University Women's Golf

Butler begins 17th season as the head men's golf coach at Armstrong State University in 2016-17 while also entering his 12th season as the head coach of the women's golf team for the Pirates. Butler led the Armstrong men to 13 straight NCAA Regionals appearances from 2002-14, including hosting the NCAA Atlantic/Southeast Regional at Savannah Quarters Golf Club in 2007, as well as an NCAA Division II National Championship Runner-Up finish in 2005, also hosted by the Pirates at the Westin Savannah Harbor Resort and Spa. The Pirates hosted the 2014 South/Southeast Super Regional at Savannah Quarters and finished third, advancing to the 2014 NCAA DII National Championships where they finished 10th, the third Top 10 national finish in program history. Meanwhile, Butler has directed the women's golf team to three NCAA South Regional appearances out of the last four years, as well Peach Belt Conference Championships in 2012 and 2016. Armstrong also hosted the 2015 NCAA Women's Golf South Regional at Savannah Quarters. Butler became the head coach of the reinstated Armstrong men's golf team in 2000 and has produced 12 GCAA All-Americans and 11 GCAA Scholar All-Americans in 15 seasons of Armstrong men's golf. Butler's extensive teaching experience comes from his direction of the Georgia School of Golf at Southbrige Golf Club in Savannah. A Savannah native Benedictine HS graduate, Butler earned NJCAA All-America honors at Florida Community College at Jacksonville. He competed for the U.S. in the 1990 World University Games in Montpelier, France, then continued his career at Jacksonville State University, where he was a two-time NCAA Division II All-America honoree for the Gamecocks. He was honored as the 2001 East Chapter PGA Teacher of the Year, as well as earning 2005 and 2014 GCAA Southeast Region Coach of the Year honors. Butler and his wife, Whitney, currently reside in Savannah with their seven-year old son, Christopher, and two-year old son, James.

Birch joins the Armstrong men's and women's golf program as an assistant coach for the upcoming 2015-16 season. A former Peach Belt Conference golfer of the year and three-time WGCA All-American for the Pirates during his career, Birch graduated from Armstrong with her bachelor's degree in psychology in 2014.  A native of Fleetwood, England, Birch was an honorable mention WGCA All-American as a sophomore in 2011-12, advancing to the 2012 NCAA DII National Championships as an individual and finishing 21st. She was named the PBC Co-Player of the Year and a third-team WGCA All-American as a junior in 2012-13 and as a senior, she earned WGCA Scholar All-America and honorabl emention All-American honors.