Press release from Catawba

Catawba Head Football Coach, Curtis Walker, has announced that Marco Butler has rejoined the football staff and will serve as the defensive coordinator. In addition to his coordinating duties, he will coach the cornerbacks.

Butler was with Catawba in 2017, when he also coached the cornerbacks, including All-SAC and honorable mention All-America selection Cris Page. That season, the Catawba Indians posted a dozen interceptions and 44 pass breakups. The secondary allowed just six touchdown passes and limited teams to 47% pass completions. Catawba went 9-2 and earned a win over NCAA I VMI during the 2017 campaign.

Over the past two seasons, Butler coached at Gardner-Webb University. In 2018, he coached outside linebackers and cornerbacks in 2019 as well as special teams both years. He mentored 2019 Academic All-Big South, Cam McCuthcheon.

Butler has nearly 20 years of coaching experience, including Division I stops at Hampton (2014) and Norfolk State (2005-2013). Butler also has college coaching experience at Division II Fayetteville State. He also served as head Track & Field coach at Fayetteville State in 2004-2005.

Prior to his first stint at Catawba, Butler spent a year as defensive backs coach at Independence (N.C.) High in Charlotte. Each of Butler’s stops on the coaching circuit have seen him work on the defensive side of the football with several stints working with special teams.

Butler began his coaching career at Fayetteville State University in 2001 and was on staff for a pair of conference championships teams and three NCAA II playoff squads. In 2005, he joined the staff at Norfolk State University.

At Norfolk State, Butler served as defensive backs coach and special teams coordinator. In 2011, Norfolk State claimed the MEAC Championship and earned the school’s first berth in the FCS Playoffs with a defense that ranked second in the nation in total defense and fourth in scoring defense. Butler’s 2013 secondary ranked seventh in the nation in pass defense. The Spartan defense ranked second overall with 19 interceptions and third with 33 total takeaways. Butler moved to Hampton University for the 2014 season where he was the defensive backs coach and serves as the interim defensive coordinator.

In addition to his collegiate coaching experience, Butler has served NFL Coaching Fellowships with the Denver Broncos, Dallas Cowboys, Chicago Bears and Indianapolis Colts. He attended the NCAA-NFL Coaching Academy in Orlando, Fla., in 2011. Butler has coached five players who have been signed in the NFL, including Don Carey, a 2009 NFL Draftee by the Cleveland Browns.

Butler played receiver and defensive back at Western Carolina. He graduated in 2000 with a degree in sports management and a minor in marketing.

Butler and his wife, Shauna, have two children, a daughter, Eva, and a son, Marco.