Michael Herbert (Dad) Butler

Michael Herbert “Dad” Butler

Coach and Trainer

Dad Butler was born in Catskill, New York and enjoyed a successful career as a semi-pro football player and trackman. From 1897 – 1907 he was the track coach at the Chicago Track Club before moving to the Pacific Northwest to set up a training school for professional athletes. Not only did he focus on track and football, but he also trained boxers as well. He trained world lightweight champ Kid Lavigne in his title defenses. He then became the track coach at Oregon State Agricultural College (now known as Oregon State). In 1927 he moved to Detroit to become track coach and train football players at the University of Detroit where he stayed until 1944. After his retirement he stayed active by directing boxing tournaments for the Catholic Youth Organization and was named to the Detroit Department of Parks and Recreation. Dad Butler was inducted into the Detroit Titan Athletic Hall of Fame in 1977 and was inducted into the Michigan Sports Hall of Fame in 1960. He passed away on August 1, 1962 at 92 years of age.