The Saints football program has added an additional member to the coaching staff with the hiring of CJ Butt. Coach Butt will be joining St. Scholastica in the capacity of Assistant Head Coach, Defensive Coordinator, and Recruiting Coordinator. Head Football Coach Matt Bremer insisted that Butt will be a great addition to the staff and provides expertise on the defensive side of the ball.

"Coach Butt is a phenomenal coach and will help elevate our football program," said Bremer. "He is an elite teacher and leader of man that our team can trust. His experience and attention to detail will take our program to the next level and he has already proven his worth since arriving on campus. St. Scholastica football is fortunate to have Coach Butt as our Assistant Head Coach and Defensive Coordinator!"

Before joining the Saints, Butt most recently worked with the Drake Bulldogs as a defensive backs coach and video coordinator and before that as a defensive assistant from 2022-2023. During his time at Drake, he helped coach the Bulldogs to back to back Pioneer Football League titles, resulting in two playoff appearances.

Previously, Butt had a two-year stint at South Dakota State as a defensive graduate assistant primarily working with the Jackrabbit linebackers from 2020-2022. He helped coach SDSU to a Missouri Valley Football Conference championship and an appearance in the 2020 FCS National Title game. Butt later aided the Jackrabbits during their run to an FCS playoffs semi-finals appearance in the fall of 2021, while coaching a pair of All-American linebackers.

The Shrewsbury, Massachusetts native was also a graduate assistant at Sacred Heart from 2018-2020. While with the Pioneers, he worked with the linebacker group and served as video coordinator, playing a part in SHU's 2018 NEC Championship.

As a coach in professional football ranks, Butt worked with the defensive backs of the Arizona Rattlers in the spring of 2018 while also carrying the title of video and scouting intern.

Butt graduated from Kent State in 2017 with a degree in sports administration. He currently resides in the Duluth area with his fiancée Bethany. 

"I am excited about the opportunity to continue my coaching career here at St. Scholastica," said Butt. "I believe this football program has a really bright future, and I am excited about what these student-athletes can accomplish on and off the field! I am looking forward to assisting with the direction that Coach Bremer will be guiding the program towards!"