BringJoy

Conch Pride with Tommy Butler

• Joy Nulisch • Season 6 • Episode 73

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We sit down with Coach Tommy Butler to map the identity of Key West High School basketball—defense first, relentless pace, and a standard built on connection. Discussing feeder programs to family legacy on Bill Butler Court, the path back to district glory runs through toughness, shooting reps, and the community that shows up.

• team identity of pressure defense, rebounding, and transition
• renewed shooting focus and no-missed-layups standard
• home schedule highlights and revived rivalries
• seniors to watch and evolving roles
• coaching staff strengths and essential volunteers
• youth pipeline via Southernmost Ballers, PAL, Storm Surge, Salt Life, and HOB
• lessons from the 2012 run and college experience
• Butler family legacy and what Conch Pride means
• family support, traditions, and building lifelong connections

If you enjoyed this episode, drop a review, share, and subscribe because there's a lot of good stuff on tap. You can also follow Bring Joy on YouTube and Instagram, or check my website at joynulisch.com


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Joy Nulisch:

I'm a first generation connection. What is it going to end up to? A whole amount of conk prime. And that's what this show is all about. Celebrating the incredible people of the E West and their stories. From every corner of our conk community. So sit back and relax, colors. Let's do this thing. This episode is sponsored by Ramonas, promoting Kong Prime since 1971. How are we doing, Kong fans? I got a good one for you today. We're talking with Tommy Butler, a true conch and head coach of the Kewest High School basketball program. Welcome to the show, Coach.

Coach Butler:

How are you doing? Thank you for having me.

Joy Nulisch:

I'm excited that we're finally able to talk.

Coach Butler:

Yeah.

Joy Nulisch:

And um, we're gonna get right into it. What should Kunk fans expect this season from the conk basketball team?

Coach Butler:

Just a team that's connected. Uh, we got a good group of guys, so they really love playing for each other. Um it's a team like a unit, you know. Years past, you individuals, individuals have been really trying to build a team. So a team that's just connected and uh they play hard, they play for each other. You know, we've just been instilling that into them. So just a team that fights together, plays as a unit, plays together.

Joy Nulisch:

I love that. And I'll flip the question around what do you and the team expect from Cong fans this season?

Coach Butler:

Just to show up, man, to support the boys, they feed off of that energy. Um, a lot of games last season, I think the crowd kind of willed the boys to to play harder while they were tired or fatigued. It just makes them want to uh want to give more and go harder when they see their friends and family out there chairing them all. So just the support.

Joy Nulisch:

That sounds good. I was able to go to one of the preseason games, and I have to tell you, I had the best time that I've had in a long time. The there was a lot of fans in the stands, everybody was hyped, and your boys were running the floor from one end to the other. I say it was tenacious defense, you know, putting the pressure on the other team, making the shots.

Coach Butler:

Yeah, so uh high octane. Um we run a lot of practice. Um we go up, we get up and down, you know, majority of practice. So uh when we get in the game, that's just what we want to do. We want to uh you know pressure the other team and try to get them to turn the ball over and just run the floor and make it easy on us. Uh, you know, not too much offense. I mean, when we need to, we'll get there, but we try to defend, uh, you know, rebound and run the floor, you know, make shots, layups. But yeah, that's the stuff. That's our identity this year.

Joy Nulisch:

The the fundamentals, right?

Coach Butler:

Right. Yes, ma'am.

Joy Nulisch:

And I have to say I appreciate, I don't think anybody missed the layup. And I remember years past, he got it wide open, and you know, they they missed the layup. So I I appreciated the fact that they was hitting the layups, the little short jumpers, and it was plenty of three-pointers, too, to bring the crowd to the feet.

Coach Butler:

For sure. I know, I know that um, you know, again, years past, man, we struggle with shooting, man. So uh again, it's another emphasis of the other program this year. The boys kind of voiced it to me over the summer after last year, like, coach, we need to shoot more. We need to put up more shots. So I kind of you know heard him out, listen to him. So now we we put up a ton of shots in practice. So it showed that that night they they really put the ball in the basket. You know, layups, that's unacceptable. We don't miss layups. The boys know you come to practice, you miss a layup, push-ups, sprints. So we just try to drill it in the hair. You know, we got to get the open layups for sure.

Joy Nulisch:

I love that. I'm not a basketball aficionado, but I definitely noticed those little things. And like I said, I had a great time out at the basketball game, and I plan on being there as many games as possible. But speaking of that, I was looking at the schedule, and I believe we have 10 home games this year.

Coach Butler:

Yes, 10. Yes. There was there was a mistake on the schedule too. December, I don't know if you're yeah, you probably the schedule that I put out, there was a mistake on there. Uh December 6th, we play, uh, it was a Saturday, it's a Saturday. We play uh pace. It says away on the schedule, but it's really home. So there was just a little mistake on the schedule. So I don't know if you were if you knew that already, but maybe we have 11 home games. But yeah, December 6th, Monsignor Pace, that is a home game, but that's not an away game.

Joy Nulisch:

Okay. And I circled that one because I don't know about this generation of conks, but back when I was growing up and the years after, there's no room for pace on this island. We that's that's a rival. Is that is that still existing?

Coach Butler:

That's a historic rival. I mean, we haven't played them. The intensity of the robbery has definitely died down. We haven't played them in a while. But I still remember as a kid, you know. I remember growing up, you know, watching my older brothers, my older cousins, and all the older guys, you know, that old that old 102 run, uh, we had to be pace at pace. I remember being able to get out of school to come attend all those games. So I remember the the tradition and the history behind the pace rivalry for sure. So when I do schedule them, you know, it's in my mind for sure. I think about it.

Joy Nulisch:

Well, that's that's good stuff. And I see Marathon is also on the schedule. It's always good to play one of the keys rival teams as well.

Coach Butler:

Yeah, yeah. I got marathon twice. Uh Coach Murphy is a great coach. He's also running a great program over there. Um, I love Coach Murphy, man. So yeah, we're gonna get them twice. And uh they actually beat us last year, man, in Marathon. So, you know, a little uh, you know.

Joy Nulisch:

That's good. That's good. It keeps everybody on their toes.

Coach Butler:

Yeah, yeah, yeah. They have a great, they got a great program over there. They're building up real strong. They got some strong players right now. Real competitive. It's no more, you know, Kiwa is just gonna stomp Marathon. They're they're competitive, they're competing now. Yeah, we have them homing away this year. And again, it should be it should be a good show.

Joy Nulisch:

Sounds good. So when you confirmed that you would be on the podcast, I put out a promo on social media and I asked the listeners if they had any questions for you.

Coach Butler:

Yeah, I saw that. I saw that.

Joy Nulisch:

Um, I don't know if you saw athletic director Andrew Freeman. He wants to know if you're gonna be rocking the suit and tie this season.

Coach Butler:

So, um, what's that about? The kids uh the kids asked me um about that as well. They asked me if I was gonna uh they ever gonna see me in a suit and tie. So it's a thing, you know. Andrew's another one. He wants to, I don't know, he wants me to dress up. I told the kids that, you know, senior night, you know, coach is gonna get I'm gonna get I'm gonna get fly for him. So senior night, we play Westminster uh January 16th at home. I'll be I'll be in I'll be dapper.

Joy Nulisch:

That sounds good. I'll I'll be there for sure. And um I believe you and Andrew graduated class of 2012 together.

Coach Butler:

Yeah, I think I I think I don't know if Andrew was 2012. He might have been 13, like right after, but fairly close. We went to school together for sure. Andrew Andrew is uh he's a tremendous AD for sure. He helps me out. Um he's a tremendous guy. Great to have him.

Joy Nulisch:

So you're in your second year as the head coach.

Coach Butler:

Yes.

Joy Nulisch:

What is something you learned last year that you're glad you know now coming into this second season?

Coach Butler:

Um, just patience. Um, I think that I wanted everything to work out my first year, like right then. I wanted to just get the job and just get them going and just be like, all right, we're good, we're ready to compete. Uh state championship. And I had to, you know, reality check. Like we went 9 and 12 last year. You know, I had a main, a main guy go down with injuries, and it's just dealing with a lot of things that you have to also be ready for. Um, so I think just learning how to be patient and just uh enjoy the grind and really embrace the grind of it, and kind of not looking at the outcome of games and wins and losses, but just trying to develop the kids and to be the best version of themselves, like on and off the court. So yeah, just patience and letting it all letting it all settle in and understanding that it might take a couple years, you know, a couple years to really reach that for it to set in and get to that level that we want to get to. So yeah, I would say that.

Joy Nulisch:

I love the expectation and and raising the standards. I love the fact that you said that the players came to you and say, hey, you know, we want to shoot the ball. We we know we're looking for improvement. So they they want to win, they're ready to win. Also, you've got some seniors on the team, quite a few seniors. James Osborne for sure.

Coach Butler:

Uh Osborne's a good Oscar.

Joy Nulisch:

He's he slammed one. He he had a slam dunk the other weekend.

Coach Butler:

Yeah, he slammed it. Should be getting the screen a little harder, but I'll give it that one. He got he got it.

Joy Nulisch:

I love to watch him play. You know, he comes from a line of basketball players. His daddy could play. And uh, who are some of the other uh seniors that you're looking and having expectations for this year?

Coach Butler:

Zachary Levering, uh, another one. I've been around him since he was a freshman, now four years. Another one, big, 6'6, solid guy, great kid, great in school academically. He's everything you would want, the kid, coachable, respectful, you know, and just looking for him to have a big season too. I think that he can he has a lot that he can offer and provide for the team. So I think that he's gonna step into a to his largest role. You know, he's never been, you know, someone that had a huge role. I think this year is his first year where I feel like I expect, and he expects out of himself to have like a large role on the team. So Zach, uh Jackson Cabrera, another good, another good kid, great kid. Um, worked really hard. You know, first couple years I had him, didn't really have the confidence, didn't want to shoot the ball. Uh, and then last year he just kind of broke open. Had dealt with a couple injuries his sophomore year, he injured his leg really bad. So his junior year was like his breakout year last year. And he he was my most improved player and um provides a lot for us on the defensive end. He's real uh, you know, aggressive, and you can see if you were at the preseason game. He's in your face all game. Um and he's starting to get more confident with his offense too. So we we need that. Alex Means, another another good kid. Alex Means actually almost didn't make the team, but he, you know, we fought his way back and got back in the program, and he's doing really good. Um, real excited about him as well. He provides us with a spark that, you know, scoring-wise, that we need an experience that we need on the floor. Um, Connor Freeman is another senior. Again, a great kid. Um, doesn't really play that much, but he doesn't care. He just wants to be with his team. He gives it all. When I do put him in the game, he's gonna give it 100%. And I love that about him, and that's why I always pick him to play for me. Um, you know, but uh those are some of the top guys. Sanatillo, another guy who kind of hasn't been around too much. He had a really good freshman and sophomore year on JV. And then his junior year, he kind of got away from it a little bit. And now it's his senior year, he's back, but he's still trying to get into the groove. Same as Kaihan. Kyan is uh a huge force. I mean, he's comes off the bench, he's strong, he's uh he's athletic. Um he's he's fast. He he just provides us with uh you know that strong force that we need. So again, we got a good group of seniors, good group of guys. Um I'm pretty sharp for guy like one or two, or but I mean that's those are the most, those are the those guys that are uh you know in the rotation active now.

Joy Nulisch:

That sounds good. And look, let's just do this. Let's say that this won't be this is the first episode we do together, but it won't be the last. You win district championships, we get we get into the playoffs, and we'll do another episode. We can talk about all the players.

Coach Butler:

Sure, yeah, we're gonna do that.

Joy Nulisch:

Let's give a shout out to the coaches too, because I know you got uh a staff around you. So who are some of the coaches that are helping out?

Coach Butler:

Uh I have coach Tony McDowell. Um great guy. Um, I mean, he coached me all my life, you know, growing up. So he's my head, he's my JV coach. He's in charge of the JV. So he is, again, another great guy that I love to have around. He's a great disciplinarian. Um he's uh very, very good with the kids as far as in discipline, keeping them sharp grades, you know, attendance and stuff like that. We just love having them around the guys. Coach Bernard is my assistant. Bernard Simmons, he's been around the program again since I've been there managing. He's done it all. Like when I was there in school, he was my manager. He was he was everything for me, you know? And um now he's taking on a larger role in being my lead assistant of the program, and he just keeps me on my toes. He's honest. Um, you know, he's he's not a yes man. He'll tell me, hey, coach, you were wrong. You know, so I need that around me. He's good for that. Um, Coach Herschel Major, um, again, another good guy, um, just a great role model to have around the kids. Um he also runs um a program over the summer that kind of directly links into what we got going on with the high school. So the kids are getting developed year-round with his program, Southernmost Ballers. So he it's great to have him around. And then a new face that a lot of a lot of uh people in the city don't know is uh DeQuandre McNeil. Um this is a military guy. He's from Atlanta. Uh he was stationed in Japan. Um and then he, you know, he just got down here about a year ago. He reached out to me and you know, said he wanted to just be around basketball. He loved it. Um and uh we kind of slowly bought him around and he's been uh excellent. He's excellent. Um he's organized, you know, and he keeps me organized. He does all the little things. He's great with the kids. He's just he's a great guy. So that's my staff right there as a whole. And I can't forget Amanda. Amanda Malot. She's like my uh, I wouldn't call her like a team mom. She's she's everything, you know. She's she does everything for the for the guy. As far as filling up the fridge, making sure the Gatorades are cold, making sure we got food cooked, the burgers, the cheeseburgers, the hot dogs. Oh, coach, you were supposed to put in this form. You forgot to fill this out. So it's it's um, you know, she just makes sure everything is, she holds everything together. She's like the glue. So everything just stays tied in with her. So I can't forget about her. Gotta give her a shout-out too. Would very much be for a man or two.

Joy Nulisch:

Yeah, I I appreciate that. When I was at the game, I was watching the score, the scorekeeper and the clock person, whoever runs the clock.

Coach Butler:

Yeah, Ricky.

Joy Nulisch:

Okay, because that that's that's gotta be a lot of pressure too, right? Because you start watching the game and you forget to hit the button.

Coach Butler:

Yeah, Ricky, man. Ricky, Ricky's been around a long time. He's real good at it. Like he he he hits me up every at the beginning of the season. Ricky is he's our guy. So whenever at the beginning of the season, hey coach, you need me to do the clock? And he's like, Yeah, I was like, Yeah, you know I need you on the clock, you know. So yeah, so Miss Michelle Brown, she's our statistician. So uh she controls, you know, all the all the stats for the game. And she's like a one-man man. Like she does it all. Like she has a little laptop, I mean her iPad, um, and she's just sharp with the stats. She's been doing it as long as I've been playing, as long as I know. She's another intricate part of the program. Um, we appreciate her, you know, her as well. Um but yeah, she's real sharp. She makes all the makes all the stats are correct, all the games are uploaded, the roster on Max Preps, everything is good, the schedule. She's kind of in charge of all that. So can't forget about Miss Michelle as well, too, on the program. Definitely loves in um Charis Reserve.

Joy Nulisch:

Takes a lot of conks to make something like this happen, right?

Coach Butler:

Yeah, yeah. It's a family thing.

Joy Nulisch:

And you mentioned Southernmost ballers, those feeder programs, the PAL leagues, southernmost ballers. Now the the middle school has a basketball team. Talk about that a little bit, and and I would assume that the growth and the success of our high school program has a lot to do with those feeder programs.

Coach Butler:

Well, Hunter, but you look at all the major cities, all the uh the premier basketball states and cities, they all have feeder. They all start young, third grade, fourth grade, fifth grade. So the youth is is the most important. You have to start the fundamentals, you have to start building them up from that young age. And then once you get them up from that age, you start, you know, then teaching all the other developmental things. But from the beginning, you start with the fundamentals. So uh those programs are important. And Southernmost Ballers is just one. There's multiple now in the city. Um, I remember five, six years ago, I think there was like one program in the city. I think it was Storm Surge. I think it was uh Coach Demetrius Roach uh ran Storm Surge. Um now there's multiple. There's Storm Surge, um, there's Salt Life, uh there's Southernmost Ballers. Um there's a lot of different routes for kids to be able to develop and train and get better, but with one goal to be ready for the high school when it's time. So yeah, no, HOB, my cousin, actually coaches at HOB, so we're connected, you know. Um, Coach Don J Valdez is doing great things at um at HOB with the kids. So me and him talk all the time, and Coach Richard Multi as well is on the staff over there. We're constantly talking about how we can get those kids developed and ready for the high school. Uh Coach Don Jay even goes as far as trying to run my offense and run my defenses just so the kids can be familiar with it when they come over. So yeah, Andrew again mentioned that to me. You know, it's important to kind of create that feeder. You know, I coach Powell as well, too. Uh might not do it this year, but I have in the past, you know, just trying to get my face involved with that, see the kids get, you know, get out there more in the community. So, but yeah, no, it's in it's important. Again, hats off to Coach Don Jay and Coach Richard too at HOB.

Joy Nulisch:

Yeah, very good. I'm glad I'm glad you mentioned the other programs too. I wasn't I wasn't aware of. So it's definitely.

Coach Butler:

Like I said, there's a ton now. I remember there used to be a couple, maybe one. Now there's a bunch. So all the kids out there looking to you know continue their their careers after season and summer. There's gonna be flyers all posted around. There's multiple programs out here now where you can play and develop. So yeah.

Joy Nulisch:

And coach, you know what it takes to be a good ball player. Uh, you were a standout athlete when you were in Key West High School, you were part of that 2012 team that went undefeated during the regular season. Tell me a little bit about that team. Who were your coaches, your teammates, and how did how do you go undefeated? I think you guys were 19-0.

Coach Butler:

Yeah, 18. I think we were 18 and 1.

Joy Nulisch:

18 and 1, okay.

Coach Butler:

18 and 1.

Joy Nulisch:

Every season comes to that hard stop, right?

Coach Butler:

Yeah, for sure, man. Um, yeah, uh, you're taking me back. I mean, what I can start with with that pro with that uh team, I can honestly say, um, I would have to again tip my hat off to Coach Anton Lopez and Coach Tony. Again, Coach Tony was my coach. Coach Lamar Moore, another one that played for uh the state championship team and also had a great high school career for QS High. So uh we had another uh military guy at that time too. His name was Kenny, Kenny Morton. That was the staff at the time. Coach Elliott Valdez helped out as well. So we had like championship pedigree around us that helped us, you know, train. But with that team, again, I would have to tip my hat out to Coach Anton for me personally, because I wasn't doing the right things academically. Um, you know, my junior season, I had a knee injury from football, and I kind of just kind of went downhill from there as far as my academics. But Coach Anton didn't give up on me. He gave me a chance to, you know, go to summer school, get my grades, and play with the team over the summer. And that summer is where we really dialed in. We traveled all over. I mean, Coach Anton had us in multiple states. I mean, we played so many games that summer. It was just like all together. The whole team stayed together all summer. We did fundraisers, and uh again, I just can't even thank Coach Anton enough for doing that, putting that time in. But we were all over, competing. So Virginia, Gainesville, Miami, Orlando, South Carolina, North Carolina, Texas. Like we literally were traveling every other weekend. So that was a key to you know our success. We played a lot of games together. We had real good chemistry. We had a bond. Oh, that's number two. We had a real close bond. You know, those were my real brothers, you know, to this day. I'm still good with everybody on that team. We were real brothers, like real dialing with each other. We cared for each other, we played our hearts out for each other and for the coaches. So I would say that just a chemistry, just a bond that was unbreakable.

Joy Nulisch:

Giving me the choose.

Coach Butler:

Yeah, no, for sure. It's crazy to think about because it felt like it was not that long ago, but it really was. Um, and then uh just we just competed, man, in practice every day with each other. We we went hard, you know. I went hard. Jayquan, he pushed me. Anthony Rice, they pushed me. Uh, Tony Gid, you know, Ryan Wagner. Ryan transferred in from, I forgot where Ryan came from, but he came right in and just fit right in with the with the guys. And uh Don Jay played for that team. Um Elliot, uh, Elliot Jr., Elliot Valdez Jr. played. We had a solid squad, Gerald Hernandez, and these were all guys that were coming off the bench. So it's like starting five had to work every day because these bench guys were good.

Joy Nulisch:

Knocking on the door.

Coach Butler:

They're here, like they're here. So it's like we never could take a day off. Man, they were they were in our chest all day, and I think that helped us. And again, we just uh we knew we could do something special because of that summer. We were traveling all over the world, beating people, you know, small little team from QS, just beating everybody, and we really knew right then and there, like if we lock in, we could have a good season. And uh, we had a good season, you know. It didn't end the way we wanted to, but I mean, the memories and experiences from that year, like I'll never forget that, you know. So again, I want to, you know, I want the boys that I'm coaching now to feel that. It was it was fun. I mean, I remember the chills, the Dural game, playing at home against the Raoul, read out, the gym was just packed. It was like, it was like it was 2001 again, 2002. Like it was it was nowhere to sit. It was standing. Like when we won that game, we just the crowd just went crazy. It was it's just I want them to feel that. So that's what I'm really earning for to get back to that to that level of play. But it was a fun, it was it was fun. High school was fun. We had a great team, great run. Uh, I think we were the last district champions. Yeah, I just got the um the records from Coach Wise. Uh 2012, my year was the last year for boys basketball district champions. So trying to definitely get a district championship as a coach, too. So that'll be pretty cool.

Joy Nulisch:

Yeah, I want to see you. I want to see you on that that record list, right? As a coach, a player who won the district championship, and a coach who won it.

Coach Butler:

Right.

Joy Nulisch:

And um, speaking of those records, um the Butler family is pretty much the first family of basketball in Key West. When you think about basketball here, you you think of bat, you know, the Butlers. Your uncles, Julian, Charles. Obviously, the the court is Bill Butler Court. Um, I believe that's your cousin. So when you walk out there at practice or a game and you step on that court, you get any feels? Does it feel like home or does it feel like pressure?

Coach Butler:

No, I don't feel like pressure. It feels like home. You know, it's like that's like my sanctuary, man. I love that floor. I love everything about it. I think that all the work that the past butlers put in, you know, to make our name stand out that much. It's just it's just a blessing to be a butler and to be, you know, in this family and to be able to coach and play as a butler. And so it's just a blessing all in all. I don't feel any pressure. I do hear a lot about, you know, certain things. Definitely my uncle Julian doesn't let me that that that guy. Again, I wasn't around, you know, to see him play, but I can't not hear about it. That's all I hear about. Him and Bill. And again, there's you know, there's some other butlers too. My cousin Kurt, it's it's too many names. You know, my brother, it's just too many names. It's just so many butlers that were good and you know, just cemented their name in Key West basketball history. Just uh I think it's it's fun. I'm I'm just happy to be a butler and happy to be able to coach and you know just kind of continue the legacy.

Joy Nulisch:

And coach, um, you mentioned your brother. I want you to know that Marquise will always be remembered.

Coach Butler:

Yeah, for sure. Well, he's in the gym, he's got a plaque in there, he's got his jersey up, or he's got his track jersey in there, his jersey in there. It's funny that we talk about him because I made a mistake this year, you know, ordering my jerseys when uh I put in an order for some Nike uniforms and I ordered a number two. And I was just like, you know, number two is, you know, I don't know if they officially like retired the number, but I know that uh, you know, all the prior coaches honored it and nobody wore it, you know. Nobody nobody wore it. I wore it my senior year because, you know, I was just again gifted to, you know, to wear it. My dad and you know, Marquise's mom were like, yeah, of course you can wear it. That's your brother. So I wore two my senior year, but after me, you know, the family wouldn't really let no one else wear the number, you know, kind of like they retired it. But I ordered it and you know, I have it in the in the locker room right now. So I'm kind of like, I can't really let no one wear it. I was kind of thinking about it, but I was like, nah, but it's just an extra uniform sitting in the in the locker room now, brand new. So I'm like, what do I do with it? So I'm thinking about doing something special. I don't know yet, but I'm gonna get the family involved, but I'm not gonna let anyone wear it. But it's kind of crazy because I did order his number. I ordered that number this year, and I was like, I messed up.

Joy Nulisch:

No, you know what? I don't think you messed up. I think you need that jersey close to you. Yeah, nobody else needs to wear it, but but maybe it needs to be on a chair or or somewhere in that locker room.

Coach Butler:

Yeah, something like that for sure.

Joy Nulisch:

You know, I I I yeah, I I love the way that you're thinking some way to honor him, and I know that the Conk family will certainly surround you with that. You know, we were you talked about you being such a good athlete, you play football and basketball, you also went on to play at the next level.

Coach Butler:

Yes.

Joy Nulisch:

What was that like leaving Key West and going to college to play ball? And how does that help you as a coach to develop the players and maybe give them, you know, the information they need because everybody thinks they want to go to school but doesn't necessarily know what it takes. So how's that help you?

Coach Butler:

It helps tremendously. I mean, started off with coaching. I had great coaches. I again Lamar Moore and my cousin Carlton Thurston, they helped me get into school. I mean, once I graduated, I had options to go to school, but being a little timid, a little a little frightened, you know, still young, still uh, you know, a young man, I kind of like deferred those options until I felt like I needed to stop being so scary and you know go out there into the world. But they kind of got me a look at a school in Minnesota called Vermilion, now known as Minnesota North. They were being coached by a great coach. Like again, another, like if you think about basketball in Minnesota in that area, McDonald is the name. Just like Butler and Key West, it's McDonald up there. So Coach Paul McDonald, um, shout out to Coach Paul. You were a great coach. I was blessed. And I think I was just meant to go there. I was meant to be underneath him. And he just, you know, taught me so much about the game and about life that I still carry all those things with me today. And he's one of the reasons why I wanted to coach. He went hard for his players. So yeah, I went to Minnesota, a junior college in Minnesota called uh Vermilion. A great program in that area, you know, very high standards. Go going into a program where they're expected to win, it was tough. Uh, but again, it was difficult. I had to come from Key West, Florida to Ely, Minnesota.

Joy Nulisch:

I don't even know where it is. I gotta look it up on a map.

Coach Butler:

I mean, nobody knows where that is. It's northern Minnesota. It's like it's like right by the border of Canada. I'm talking about freezing cold. I mean, I'm coming from Key West where Christmas is like 70, 80 degrees. You know, I'm up there in October, November. It's 20, 10 degrees, five degrees. I don't even know what to do. So it was it was a mental battle more than anything. It was mental. Like, do I really want this? Like, it's so cold. I don't want to go to class. Like, I gotta go to practice. The gym is far. I gotta walk to the gym. So for me, my experience, it was difficult, but I wanted to hoop. I wanted to play ball. Uh, and I did well there. I did well there at Vermillion. I mean, my freshman year, sophomore year did well. All tournament team both years. I actually got a plaque up in the gym. Like I'm cemented there as well, um, just like QS High. So I'm I'm I'm there's like a big plaque of me up in the in that gym too. So um really good year, really good two, really two uh two really good years there. And then I got a scholarship to another school in Kansas called McPherson, being ran by another great man, two great men actually, uh Coach Tim, Coach E. Um, who oh Coach E and Coach Tim who are still in my life at this very moment. Uh Coach E is actually the head coach at McPherson right now, you know, in uh one of our one of our Seniors last year is now attending that school, Cameron Roberts. So he's at McPherson right now. So I went there for a year. So 2014, 2016, Vermillion, and then 2016, 2017 at McPherson. Played there for a year. And then 2017, I moved back to Keys. I just dealt with a lot going on with my family. My father passing and stuff like that, my firstborn. So I moved back. But then as soon as I moved back, I started working and I started literally volunteering around Key West High. Like I got right into it, volunteering. And then just got right back into it. And I've been doing it ever since here, so about 2017, either volunteering or helping the program out in some way. But yeah, college was a great experience. I learned a lot. I played at a pretty high level. And it taught me a lot. It just taught me, you know, how to understand the game, the IQ of the game. So seeing it from that level, I can teach it to the kids and just help them develop their IQ of the game and play better. Because again, I really did play at a pretty high level, you know, compared to most people. So again, it's just an advantage. Learn the higher the higher level you get, the more you learn about the game, and then just be able to kind of go through those experiences. Being able to teach the boys that stuff, uh, it just helps them out too. So yeah, it was it's a great advantage going to school.

Joy Nulisch:

I love that. Do they know how good you were? You tell them?

Coach Butler:

Nah, no, I'm kind of cubby now. I'm a little I'm a little heavy, so they think you know the boy didn't have game back in the day. But uh every now and then I might lace up, you know, James wanna, you know, want to check up. You know, I might go with James a couple times if you want to, you know, test me. But uh You got those broad shoulders, you could at least I think in their mind, they're like, all right, Coach Tommy was pretty cool, he was pretty solid, but uh they just like to test me. But I think they know that I was I was solid.

Joy Nulisch:

I asked the same question of uh Coach Chad Semenez when I when I was talking to him, he said, nah, that doesn't come up too often because you know he he was a state wrestling qualifier wrestler, and the same thing. I'm like, do you ever just take him on the mat? And he's like, nah, it don't come up too much.

Coach Butler:

No, I mean, like I said, sometimes, you know, I'll get out there just to get active. You know, we're going through some drills, I'll get out there showing a little couple things. The boys like to shoot, you know, they want to, oh coach, let me shoot against you. Like, let's do a shooting competition. I never lose. So none of the coaches beat me either. Coach Bernard, he's probably gonna see this segment and be like, oh, Coach Bernard can't beat me either. No coach, no player. Um I'm infamous in shooting. So the kids know that for sure. When it comes to that, they know Coach Tommy's gonna shoot the lights out.

Joy Nulisch:

That that's gonna be the clip. That'll be the promo clip that I post later. That's the one right there.

Coach Butler:

That's the thing.

Joy Nulisch:

Um very good. So we talked about the family. We talked about basketball. Let's um let's leave the subject of basketball, but stay with the subject of family. Who are some of the other connections you have? And we talked a lot about the butler boys, but I know you got a lot of strong women in your life as well and in your family. So let's give some love to some of the rest of your family.

Coach Butler:

Uh, my aunt. My aunt, my auntie Robin. Love you, Auntie. When I got the job, uh, you know, she was the first one to call me, you know, and congratulate me. Um, and told me if I needed anything, that uh, you know, she'll be there. And she has done that. Last year was real tough, you know. Still being a first year coach, trying to get it all figured out. You know, she helped me run my concession stand, she cooked for me. She stayed hours after hours, helped me, just whatever I needed. She's just always in my corner. So my auntie, you know, a big shout out to my auntie Robinette. Um, again, just supporting me and being there for me for whatever I need. So um, you know, my fiancee as well. It's real tough, you know, being a coach's wife or soon-to-be wife. So her, you know, just with the kids, helping out with the kids when I got late practices. Uh I gotta stay late or I'm in a bad mood because one of the kids pissed me off. Now I don't want to come home and cuddle or talk because I'm upset. But we just took a loss and she gotta calm me down because I'm mad. And she just, you know, day in and day out, she's there for me and she helps me uh with whatever I need as far as paperwork, keeping me honest. You know, again, another person that'll tell me if I'm wrong.

Joy Nulisch:

Yeah, somebody to check me.

Coach Butler:

Yeah, somebody to check me, keep me, keep me straight. So uh shout out to her as well. My mom, my mother.

Joy Nulisch:

Yes, let's not forget your mama.

Coach Butler:

Can't forget the mom, man. She is she's my rock, man. Like, you know, when I got the job, she again, another one. She's proud of me. She's always been that type of mom that's been at all my games, even when I play loudest, screaming, you know, just just there supporting me, letting me know she's there. And she does the same thing now, you know, with my kids. And that's where, again, she just helps out so much because I get off of work, and you know, the kids need to be picked up. Um, so she helps me out with that a lot. Like she makes sure the kids are good. And then once I'm done with practice or whatever I need, I'll just go pick the kids up from her. So, but it also, you know, she enjoys it, you know, being able to bond with my children, and you know, and they love her. Like, you know, Grammy, so they they love being with her. So my mother, you know, I mean, as far as women, you know, those are the three that at the top.

Joy Nulisch:

Yeah, as as they should be. And you you mentioned you mentioned your fiance soon to be wife. You guys are raising a family together. So you're you're a multi-generation conch. Now you got your own family that you're raising. What are some of those conch traditions that you want to instill in your children?

Coach Butler:

Just the pride, man, just to be prideful. Um, you know, just good, good, good athletes, good, be good sportsmen, um, you know, respectful kids, but compete, you know, at a high level and just know what it means to play for something, you know, bigger than yourself. It's like we're a small, tight-knit community here compared to all the schools that we have to play or all the talent that we have to face. But I think that I think that's what makes us stronger. And that's just instilling that in them. I bring my kids around, they come to practice with me. My son loves basketball. He shoots all day at practice. Uh, he comes to all my games, they're excited about the game Friday night. So they just just keeping them around the sport and uh letting them see their dad in action, coaching, letting them see, they have a really good bond with the players. All the players are really good. Like I said, I have a really good group of kids. They love my children, like they treat my children like they're little brothers. Whenever my children come around, respectful, they help out, and you know, my kids really love them, like they look look up to them. So just that tradition of them seeing the older guys in action, you know, practicing with me, seeing their dad coaching, they're asking me questions. I think that right there just instills the tradition in them and a discipline, you know, the love of the game for them will come. I don't force them to play or do anything. I want them to love it themselves. And then uh yeah, that's really it. I think that that's how I go about it. That's how I see it.

Joy Nulisch:

So, coach, I'm gonna go ahead and we're gonna wrap it up. I'm gonna ask you two big questions, though.

Coach Butler:

Alright, I'm ready.

Joy Nulisch:

You ready for it?

Coach Butler:

Yes.

Joy Nulisch:

What does conk pride mean to you?

Coach Butler:

Kunk pride to me is just toughness. I think when I think conch pride, I just mean I think toughness. I think someone that will never quit. I think someone that is, again, respectful. Um someone that is a hard worker, someone that is willing to do whatever it takes, no matter what the circumstances are, what environment they're in. You know, yeah, we're a small town, yeah, we have this disadvantage, but we're still gonna come out here every day and perform and we're gonna work and we're gonna show you what we're all about. So when I think about Kunk Pride, I think about toughness, man, just the will to want to be a competitor and compete with the rest of the world by any means necessary.

Joy Nulisch:

I love that. That's gonna be a clip too. Very good. All right, and the last question what brings you joy?

Coach Butler:

What brings me joy the most is just building relationships with the kids, with the with the community, with everyone. You know, um, like our core values right now with the program, one of the main things is connection. You know, on the back of the kids' uh warm-ups, it says connected. And we're trying to all constantly find ways to connect with each other and connect with the community and everywhere. So I think that just building relationships, you know. I have a bunch of kids that reach out to me to this day that I coached, you know, and I've impacted their lives in a way where they feel like, you know, I'm someone important to them. I think just that that brings me joy. Seeing kids succeed, obviously, and you know, chase their dreams and be successful in that, knowing that, you know, they're able to do something that they want to do, and I'm just there to help them. Basketball brings me joy. Coaching, being with my family, kids, like just normal things like that, you know. But uh, yeah, definitely in the basketball sense, just seeing kids, you know, chase their dreams and be successful and building relationships with them that last, you know, long past them being in high school. You know, we'll be we'll be friends and family forever.

Joy Nulisch:

Coach Key West High School basketball is lucky to have you. Key West is lucky to have you. I'm a big fan.

Coach Butler:

Thank you.

Joy Nulisch:

I really enjoyed our conversation. I I want to end with one thing. I wasn't sure if I was gonna mention this or not, but I told you the other day I knew your daddy. Yes, we we worked together at the school district, but mostly our connection came through sports and photography. Your daddy was a great photographer, and he and I worked in the photo labs back in the day when they used to be photo labs, yeah. And uh, so that's that was our connection together. And whenever he saw me, he'd say, Joy is joyous one, make a joyful noise. And uh it's my hope, it's my wish that he's hearing this joyful noise that you and I are having in this conversation.

Coach Butler:

For sure, for sure. He's around for sure.

Joy Nulisch:

Shining the light on you and the program and the butler family. I I hope from our mouth to his ears that he's able to hear this joyful noise.

Coach Butler:

For sure.

Joy Nulisch:

Thank you, Coach.

Coach Butler:

Thank you, thank you for having me.

Joy Nulisch:

Go conks.

Coach Butler:

Go conks.

Joy Nulisch:

This episode is sponsored by Ramonis, promoting conk pride since 1971. I'm Joy Newleich, and I appreciate you tuning into my podcast. My purpose is to bring joy into my life and the lives of others. If you enjoyed this episode, drop a review, share, and subscribe because there's a lot of good stuff on tap. You can also follow Bring Joy on YouTube and Instagram, or check my website at joynoolish.com. Now go bring joy to the people in your world. Until next time, much.

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Joy Nulisch

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