Regarding the recent articles in the Alligator which, on balance, could only be considered as highly critical of your coaching job done by Lady Gators basketball coach Amanda Butler, my wife and I are longtime Gator fans, members of the Boosters Club and never miss a home game.
We attend all the club functions, including banquets, practices and pre-game scouting reports.
We have known Coach Butler’s family for many years, watched her play for the Gators and now have become close friends and admirers of her.
We know her to be a dedicated, intense, hard-working coach committed to the success of this team and of all of its players.
We have seen her in action and have consistently been proud of the coaching job she does, not only in the wins but in the losses as well.
Her court strategy, substitution and matchups are the mark of a coach who knows what she’s doing and manages to get the most out of a very young team headed for greatness in the next few years.
Funny your articles never mentioned the very recent and extremely complimentary remark regarding Amanda Butler voiced by Carole Ross and Pat Summit.
How come?
As for the transfers your articles mentioned, name a coach who hasn’t experienced similar situations.
Many of the departed left because of lack of playing time or their failure to accept their coach’s system designed to improve their individual capabilities and build a winning program.
Bear in mind Billy Donovan’s message three years ago to Chandler Parsons: “If you don’t want to buy into a program which will convert your potential into the most productive player you can be, then you need to go somewhere else.”
Obviously, Parsons response was to “buy in,” and guess who is the player of the year in the SEC and coach of the year?
Think about the coaching style of John Calipari of the Kentucky Wildcats and Andy Landers of the Georgia Lady Bulldogs and their locker-room and sideline antics.
We’ll take Coach Butler and her style over theirs anytime!
Editor's note: This letter refers to this article.
