Butler women's basketball head coach Beth Couture inks contract extension

Sept. 7, 2007

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. - Butler Head Coach Beth Couture, who last season led the Bulldogs to their first appearance in the Horizon League Championship Finals in nine years, has signed a five-year contract extension to remain at the helm through the 2011-12 season. Athletic Director Barry Collier made the announcement on Friday (Sept. 7).

"We are very pleased with the direction of our women's basketball program and the outstanding leadership of coach Couture," Collier said. "In Beth's five seasons, our teams have made remarkable progress in the Horizon League standings. We want her to know that we appreciate her efforts and that we share her commitment to excellence."

Couture has been instrumental in rebuilding the Bulldogs into perennial Horizon League contenders since arriving on campus prior to the 2002-03 season. Butler doubled its win total in her first year with the team before recording the 14th-best win improvement (eight wins) in the NCAA a year later in 2003-04.

Since then, the Bulldogs have increased their win total each successive season while finishing in the top half of the Horizon League standings in all three.

Last year, Butler tallied 11 wins in league play, the most in the last nine seasons, and finished in a tie for second place in the regular season rankings before advancing to the tournament finals for the first time since 1997-98.

Under Couture's tenure, nine Butler players have been named to All-Horizon League teams and four players have reached 1,000 points in their careers, including departed seniors Jackie Closser and Ellen Hamilton last season.

Couture begins her sixth season at the helm this fall when the Bulldogs welcome Ohio to Hinkle Fieldhouse on Nov. 10 beginning at 4:30 p.m.

--Story provided by Butler office of sports information