During the 2023 season, Butler became the fifth fastest Saint Francis women’s soccer coach to reach 10 wins with the program with a 1-0 win over Le Moyne on Oct. 8. Butler hit the milestone in 31 games, six games shy of Brenda Van Stralen's record of 25.
Butler returned for her second season in Loretto in 2023 after a 7-10-1 debut campaign in 2022. The season was a massive improvement upon the 2021 season, and one in which Butler guided the Red Flash to the NEC Quarterfinals.
Butler comes to Loretto from fellow Franciscan school Saint Bonaventure University, where she spent one season as an assistant coach. During her one season with the Bonnies, she coached an Atlantic-10 first-team performer, a second-team honoree and two All-Rookie team selections. Saint Bonaventure registered its best winning percentage and first winning conference season since the 2013 campaign with a 7-8-4 overall record and 5-4-0 mark in the Atlantic-10.
"Sara is not only a tremendous fit for our department, but for the institution," said Downer. "She possesses the unique quality of intimately understanding the elements that lead to success at our level and I'm beyond excited to see her plan executed at Saint Francis. Sara is a gifted recruiter, a skilled tactician and an accomplished former student-athlete, attributes that will undoubtedly benefit our student-athletes and our women's soccer program."
Prior to her time at Saint Bonaventure, Butler spent the 2020-21 season at Eastern Kentucky University. She coached the first conference Freshman of the Year in program history, who was also named to the Atlantic Sun (ASUN) Second Team and one of two players named to the All-Freshman Team. The Colonials finished 4-5-1 overall and in the ASUN Conference in the abbreviated spring season due to COVID-19. The four wins matched the win total from 2019 despite playing eight fewer matches. In addition, the four wins in the circuit matched the total from 2018 when Eastern Kentucky was a member of the Ohio Valley Conference.
"I'd first like to thank those within the hiring committee for their belief in my ability to lead this program," said Butler. "Saint Francis has a rich women's soccer history, and to serve as the head coach is an extreme honor which combines my passions for the game, leadership and community building. Throughout the process it was clear that there was a shared vision of success for this program and for its members both on and off the field and I am excited to build on the progress this team has made towards accomplishing that aim. I am also thankful for my support system off the field as you have enabled me to make this dream a reality. I look forward to joining the extended family at Saint Francis and am eager to take on my new role as a Red Flash!"
After getting her coaching career started at NCAA Division III Covenant College in north Georgia in the spring of 2019, Butler joined her former teammate and assistant coach Nikki Elsaesser as an assistant coach at NCAA Division III Houghton College in western New York. The Highlanders finished the 2019 season 8-7-2 and 3-3-1 in the Empire 8 Conference for its first winning season in three years. Butler coached one All-Empire 8 first-team selection and three honorable mentions.
Butler put together an impressive playing career at Messiah College in Mechanicsburg, Pa., one of the top Division-III women's soccer programs in the country.
As a senior in 2018, she was voted first team All-America after logging more than 1,400 minutes, and making 25 saves while surrendering only five goals. A local product to Messiah College from nearby Dillsburg, Pa., she held a 17-1-2 record while completing seven shutouts and posting a 0.833 save percentage. Butler was the first All-America goalkeeper in Messiah history.
For her career, Butler played in 60 games, stopping 90 shots while allowing only 14 goals. She recorded 26 shutouts and recorded a 36-4-4 record in the net. She was a two-time first team All-Middle Atlantic Conference selection.
A medical redshirt allowed Butler to spend five years with the Messiah women's soccer program. During that time, her teams finished with an impressive 106-6-12 record, which included finishes in the national Sweet 16 (2018), Elite Eight (2014 & 2017), Final Four (2015) and a national runner-up finish in 2016.
Butler graduated from Messiah in 2018 with a Bachelor's Degree in nursing and is currently working towards her Master's Degree of Business Administration from Messiah.
