Mike Helmer is entering his 16th season at the helm of Butler Women's Basketball in 2023-24 where he has led the Grizzlies to an overall record of 334-139, surpassing the 250-win milestone on November 2, 2019, 3 seasons ago, and the 300-win mark on November 24th, 2021.

In the 2022-23 campaign, Helmer recorded his 13th straight season with a winning record, and won at least one game in the Region VI Playoffs for the seventh consecutive season. Helmer coached freshman standout Freddie Wallace to an All-KJCCC First Team selection, and Wallace was named the KJCCC Women's Basketball Freshman of the year. Wallace was also named as an NJCAA Third Team All-American.

In the 2021-22, coach Helmer posted his 12th consecutive season with a winning record and coached freshman Jaila Harding to an All-KJCCC Honorable Mention selection. Helmer's Grizzlies also won at least one game in the Region VI playoffs for the sixth consecutive year.

In the 2020-21 season under Coach Helmer, the Grizzlies compiled a 20-4 overall record and an 18-2 record in conference play. They also clinched their 3rd consecutive KJCCC East Championship and received an at large bid to the NJCAA National Tournament in Lubbock, TX. Helmer also coached two more NJCAA All-Americans last season, as both Tamara Nard and Skyla Knight received All-American honors. Helmer also had four players receive All-KJCCC honors, the most of any school in the conference. Helmer also had the conference Co-MVP in Tamara Nard and Helmer was named KJCCC Coach of the Year.

The Grizzlies followed up a record year a season ago and went back-to-back as KJCCC East Champions as well as Region VI Champions during the 2019-20 season. They earned the programs third trip to the NJCAA Div. I Women's Basketball National Tournament but the tournament was canceled in late March due to COVID-19. The Grizzlies got the #15 seed and were slated to play #18 Salt Lake Community College. We will never know the final outcome of the 2019-20 season but the Grizzlies had a year for the books. Butler finished the year 25-8 overall and went 15-5 in the KJCCC East. Freshman Tamara Nard was a 1st Team All-Conference player for the Grizzlies and awarded 'Freshman of the Year' in the KJCCC. She was also named an NJCAA All-American, the fifth player to earn this prestegious award under coach Helmer. Nard was also voted to the WBCA All-Star Team. Camille Downs was also a First Team All-KJCCC recepient and RaVon Nero picked up Second Team honors. Helmer was named KJCCC Co-Coach of the Year for the second year in a row. The Grizzlies had four NJCAA All-Academic students and finished with a 3.27 team GPA.

The 2018-2019 season was another record breaking year for Butler. The Grizzlies went 28-5 which marked the third most season wins in school history becoming the outright Jayhawk East champions, conluding their perfect 14-0 home record. For the first time in school history, they became Region VI basketball champions, claiming their first postseason title by holding off No. 2-ranked Seward County 62-54. The Grizzlies second ever appearance in the NJCAA women's national tournament came to an end with a narrow 51-50 loss to Northwest Florida. Kyla Callins was named to the NJCAA Division I Women's Basketball All-American team, becoming the fourth Grizzly in the program's history to earn the honor.  

In 2017-18, the Grizzlies went 21-10 in the rugged Jayhawk Conference, going 17-9 in league play and winning a first-round Region VI playoff game. Ericka Mattingly was named an NJCAA All-American.

The 2016-2017 season turned out to be another great one for Helmer. The Grizzlies finished the year at 24-7, and made it to the second round of the Region VI tournament for the seventh straight year. Coach Helmer also coached four all-conference players that year. Dakota Vann was selected to 1^st team all-conference, Kendriana Washington, Kyeria Hannah and Raven Prince received all received 2^nd-team honors.

In 2015-16, Helmer guided the Grizzlies to a 24-8 overall record and a fifth-place finish in the Jayhawk West. Helmer became the second coach in the program’s history to have 20 wins or more in four straight seasons. Butler advanced to the second round of the Region VI Tournament for the sixth straight season. Tamara Lee and Kyeria Hannah both earned All-KJCCC honors, while Lee was named to the All-Region VI squad.

During the 2014-15 season, the Grizzlies finished with a record of 24-7 and a second place finish in the Jayhawk Western Conference.  Ashley Gibson also became the second NJCAA All-American in as many years under Helmer and the second in the history of the program. Katie Palmer, Kynadi Johnson were also named to the All- Conference teams. Another team highlight was beating Seward at Seward which broke a 19-year streak.

The 2013-14 season was a record-breaking year for Butler. The team broke nearly every single-season school record on their way to Butler's first ever appearance in the NJCAA women's national tournament. The Grizzlies went 34-3, including an undefeated 12-0 record in conference play. The conference title was the first for Butler since 1995. Along the way, Butler won 30 straight games. The Grizzlies finished sixth in the final national rankings and reached the "Elite 8" in the national tournament.

Helmer also coached Butler's first women's basketball All-American in Te'era Williams. Helmer himself was honored for Butler's remarkable run, earning Jayhawk East Conference Coach of the Year honor. For his efforts, Helmer was also named the Kansas Basketball Coaches Association (KBCA) Women's Junior College Coach of the Year.

In addition to the basketball honors and accolades, the Grizzlies posted a team GPA of 3.30. The Grizzlies sent seven players on to four-year programs - three to NCAA Division I, two to NCAA Division II and one each to NCAA Division III and NAIA.

While the 2013-14 season was the best in school history, Helmer spent years laying the foundation for such success. In the past six years, the Grizzlies have defeated 12 ranked opponents, including a 23-point drubbing of on the road at Iowa Western two Years ago and this past season beating Seward at Seward which Broke a 19 year streak. Other top 25 wins came against Cowley (2014 twice), State Fair (2013), Garden City Community College (2013), Redlands (2012), Iowa Western (2011), Hutchinson (2011), Independence (2009), Cloud County (2010) and Kansas City, Kansas (2011).

Under Helmer’s guidance, the Grizzlies have gone 44-3 within the friendly confines of their home arena, the Power Plant, over the last three seasons. In seven seasons, Helmer's teams have also posted an average team GPA of a 3.21. The totals of what Helmer has accomplished at Butler are staggering. He has coached 15 all conference players, 10 all-region performers, a host of academic all-Americans and 5 all-American candidates, including Butler’s only two NJCAA All American. Helmer has helped eleven players get to NCAA Division I and 13 to the NCAA Division II level. In Addition, Helmer also helped groom Butler’s first four NJCAA Coaches Association All-Stars in Jamillah Bonner (2012), Ashlee Ivy (2013), Ashley Gibson (2014) and Kyeria Hannah (2016).

Just as important, Helmer has become a front-runner on the recruiting trail, as evidenced by his success with his in-state recruiting classes. The native Kansan, Helmer prides himself on getting the best players in the state and helping them transfer on to the next level.

Helmer is able to maximize each and every student athlete’s contribution to the team through his uncanny ability to encourage and motivate. Examples of such ability are found in two players- Tysia Manuel and Renisha Hunter who went from virtual unknowns to signing NCAA Division I scholarships (Hunter in 2009 to Nicholls State University and Manuel in 2013 to Oral Roberts University) on the merit of hard work and dedication.

Helmer began his coaching career at Wichita South High School leading them to unprecedented heights including a 6A runner-up finish. During his tenure at South High, Helmer coached Christine Elliott, who signed with Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas. While at SMU, Elliott became a member of the 1,000 point club and amassed over 900 rebounds for her career. Helmer also mentored Megan Lassley, who signed with Seward County out of high school and then went on to play at NCAA Division II powerhouse Washburn University.

Before Helmer began his high school coaching career, he spent eight years managing a personal training facility in Lawrence, Kansas.

After a stellar high school career at Marion High School, Helmer played collegiate hoops at Pratt Community College and then at Kansas Wesleyan University.

Helmer is married to the former Kristina Anderson, and the couple resides in El Dorado with their children, Anderson (12) and Carson (9).