Amanda Butler Named Head Coach of Charleston Women's Basketball
3/31/2026 7:33:00 PM | Women's Basketball
CHARLESTON, S.C. – Amanda Butler has agreed to a five-year contract as the head women's basketball coach at the College of Charleston, Director of Athletics Matt Roberts announced Tuesday. Butler becomes the ninth head coach in program history and eighth in the Division I era.
"When looking for the next leader of our Women's Basketball program, we wanted to pursue a proven winner, a person with a passion for developing student leaders and someone who embraces the modern-day landscape of college athletics. Amanda Butler is that person," said Roberts. "Amanda has an enthusiasm for the College of Charleston and the Charleston community. She will work diligently to build upon our recent success and continue our programs ascent as one of the top mid-major women's basketball programs in the country."
Butler comes to Charleston after two seasons as an assistant coach at the University of Louisville where she helped lead the Cardinals to two straight NCAA Tournament appearances, including a Sweet 16 appearance this year. Louisville went 51-19 during her two years on staff.
"College of Charleston is a dream job of mine. Opportunities like this one don't come often and I'm honored to be the choice to lead such an elite group," said Butler. "I'm grateful for President Hsu, Matt Roberts, Kate Tiller and their outstanding staffs for having confidence in me. My family is beyond excited to join the Cougar Family and the Charleston community. You will get my absolute best, go Cougars!"
Butler was named the 2019 Atlantic Coast Conference Coach of the Year after leading the Clemson Tigers to its first NCAA Tournament appearance in 16 years. She also led the Florida Gators to four NCAA Tournaments, has developed WNBA players, Olympians and multiple All-Conference performers along with signing multiple McDonald's All-Americans and posting top-ranked recruiting classes.
During her 31-year career, Butler has coached programs to 12 NCAA tournament appearances – five as a head coach - an Elite 8, two NCAA Sweet 16 appearances and five Round of 32 appearances along with two regular season conference championships and one conference tournament title.
Prior to her stint with the Cardinals, Butler spent six years as the head coach at Clemson. In her first year with the Tigers in 2018-19, Butler guided Clemson to a 20-13 record, 9-7 in ACC play, helped the Tigers reach the NCAA Tournament for the first time since the 2002 season and was named the ACC Coach of the Year. The Tigers only won one ACC game the previous season and the eight-win improvement was the largest turnaround by a first-year ACC head coach in conference history. Clemson advanced to the Second Round of the NCAA Tournament after knocking off No. 8 seed South Dakota in the Opening Round.
Prior to her time at Clemson, Butler spent 10 seasons at her alma mater as the head coach of the Florida Gators women's basketball program, posting a 190-137 record in that span with eight postseason berths – including four NCAA Tournament appearances. She averaged 19.0 wins per season in her 10 years at Florida and was responsible for six of the program's 15 total 20-win seasons.
Butler began her head coaching career at UNC Charlotte following four years as an assistant and associate head coach with the 49ers. UNC Charlotte posted a 40-22 record in her two seasons at the helm and earned WNIT berths in each of the two years. She also led the team to its first-ever share of the Atlantic 10 Conference regular season championship. In her debut season, Butler's team posted a 21-9 mark and made the WNIT, earning her Atlantic 10 Coach of the Year honors.
Before Charlotte, Butler was an assistant coach for Austin Peay State where she helped lead the Govs to an Ohio Valley Conference Tournament Title and a berth to the 2001 NCAA Tournament.
A four-year member of the Gators program, Butler began her coaching career immediately following her playing career as an assistant coach in Gainesville.
A Mt. Juliet, Tennessee native, Butler had a successful prep career at Mt. Juliet High School where she scored over 1,400 points. She then went on the play for the University of Florida where she led the Gators to their first two NCAA Tournament appearances in program history. Butler completed her Gator career ranked second on the program's all-time assists list with 401.
Butler earned a bachelor's degree in exercise and sports science from the University of Florida ('95) and a master's in 1997. She and her wife, Dr. Janna Magette – who played basketball at Davidson, have two boys: Nehemiah and Lincoln.
Butler will be formally introduced to the Charleston community on Wednesday, April 1 at 2:00 p.m. in the TD Arena practice gym located on George Street.
For complete coverage of Charleston women's basketball, follow us on X (@CofCWBB) and Instagram (@CofCWBB).
"When looking for the next leader of our Women's Basketball program, we wanted to pursue a proven winner, a person with a passion for developing student leaders and someone who embraces the modern-day landscape of college athletics. Amanda Butler is that person," said Roberts. "Amanda has an enthusiasm for the College of Charleston and the Charleston community. She will work diligently to build upon our recent success and continue our programs ascent as one of the top mid-major women's basketball programs in the country."
Butler comes to Charleston after two seasons as an assistant coach at the University of Louisville where she helped lead the Cardinals to two straight NCAA Tournament appearances, including a Sweet 16 appearance this year. Louisville went 51-19 during her two years on staff.
"College of Charleston is a dream job of mine. Opportunities like this one don't come often and I'm honored to be the choice to lead such an elite group," said Butler. "I'm grateful for President Hsu, Matt Roberts, Kate Tiller and their outstanding staffs for having confidence in me. My family is beyond excited to join the Cougar Family and the Charleston community. You will get my absolute best, go Cougars!"
Butler was named the 2019 Atlantic Coast Conference Coach of the Year after leading the Clemson Tigers to its first NCAA Tournament appearance in 16 years. She also led the Florida Gators to four NCAA Tournaments, has developed WNBA players, Olympians and multiple All-Conference performers along with signing multiple McDonald's All-Americans and posting top-ranked recruiting classes.
During her 31-year career, Butler has coached programs to 12 NCAA tournament appearances – five as a head coach - an Elite 8, two NCAA Sweet 16 appearances and five Round of 32 appearances along with two regular season conference championships and one conference tournament title.
Prior to her stint with the Cardinals, Butler spent six years as the head coach at Clemson. In her first year with the Tigers in 2018-19, Butler guided Clemson to a 20-13 record, 9-7 in ACC play, helped the Tigers reach the NCAA Tournament for the first time since the 2002 season and was named the ACC Coach of the Year. The Tigers only won one ACC game the previous season and the eight-win improvement was the largest turnaround by a first-year ACC head coach in conference history. Clemson advanced to the Second Round of the NCAA Tournament after knocking off No. 8 seed South Dakota in the Opening Round.
Prior to her time at Clemson, Butler spent 10 seasons at her alma mater as the head coach of the Florida Gators women's basketball program, posting a 190-137 record in that span with eight postseason berths – including four NCAA Tournament appearances. She averaged 19.0 wins per season in her 10 years at Florida and was responsible for six of the program's 15 total 20-win seasons.
Butler began her head coaching career at UNC Charlotte following four years as an assistant and associate head coach with the 49ers. UNC Charlotte posted a 40-22 record in her two seasons at the helm and earned WNIT berths in each of the two years. She also led the team to its first-ever share of the Atlantic 10 Conference regular season championship. In her debut season, Butler's team posted a 21-9 mark and made the WNIT, earning her Atlantic 10 Coach of the Year honors.
Before Charlotte, Butler was an assistant coach for Austin Peay State where she helped lead the Govs to an Ohio Valley Conference Tournament Title and a berth to the 2001 NCAA Tournament.
A four-year member of the Gators program, Butler began her coaching career immediately following her playing career as an assistant coach in Gainesville.
A Mt. Juliet, Tennessee native, Butler had a successful prep career at Mt. Juliet High School where she scored over 1,400 points. She then went on the play for the University of Florida where she led the Gators to their first two NCAA Tournament appearances in program history. Butler completed her Gator career ranked second on the program's all-time assists list with 401.
Butler earned a bachelor's degree in exercise and sports science from the University of Florida ('95) and a master's in 1997. She and her wife, Dr. Janna Magette – who played basketball at Davidson, have two boys: Nehemiah and Lincoln.
Butler will be formally introduced to the Charleston community on Wednesday, April 1 at 2:00 p.m. in the TD Arena practice gym located on George Street.
For complete coverage of Charleston women's basketball, follow us on X (@CofCWBB) and Instagram (@CofCWBB).
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