Gameday Feature: Once a Grizzly, Always a Grizzly. Seven coaches return to alma mater

Story by Kalon Fullerton:

Seven members of the Butler Football staff, including head coach Brice Vignery, started their college careers at Butler wearing the purple and gold prior to returning to El Dorado to take coaching jobs.

Vignery, along with offensive coordinator Nate Haremza, defensive coordinator Kyle Woodall, defensive backs coach Maurice Gray, running backs coach Dreamius Smith, tight ends coach Kenyana Heard and quarterbacks coach Justin Stolberg all played for the Grizzlies under coaches Troy Morrell and Tim Schaffner.

So, what makes Butler so special?

"I had great coaches in high school, but I found a different sense of tradition, a different sense of the importance of doing the right thing, and being on time, and doing all those things here," said head Coach Brice Vignery who was once an 18-year-old kid starting college at Butler.

"It's a special place," said Kyle Woodall, "and I think that's a tribute to the guys that coached us and taught us how to do things. "Once you get here you feel the love and the family atmosphere and it's something that's ingrained in you for a lifetime."

"This place opened my eyes to the real world," mentioned offensive coordinator Nate Haremza who has a tattoo of a Grizzly on his arm and wears it proudly. "It made me a better man and a better player. You don't get something on your body that isn't special and for me this place is worthy of that Grizzly on me for life."

All three coaches attributed the family atmosphere in the program to the coaches that came before them, notably legendary and hall of fame head coach Troy Morrell along with longtime defensive line coach Steve Braet.

"The culture is the biggest thing," said Haremza. "You know, with coach Morrell in the late 90's, that's really where it all started. That culture is what brings people back, it's what brought me back"

 "I knew coaching was something I wanted to do and if I wanted to do it the right way, I needed to come back to learn from Morrell, coach Flores and coach Braet," said Vignery.

 Vignery was named head coach in the winter of 2021, and when defensive coordinator Braet announced his retirement, he was tasked with constructing an almost brand-new coaching staff. He decided to go with the familiar faces, both to Vignery and Butler football, hiring former teammate Maurice Gray, Grizzly legend and NFL running back Dreamius Smith, along with former players Justin Stolberg and Kenyana Heard as new additions to the staff.

 "Being a head coach for the first time, I needed guys on the staff that knew me, knew how I wanted to do things, knew my personality and knew this place and program," Vignery said. "I did hire a lot of former players and teammates, but I wanted people that understand this place, and understand this level and understand me right next to me." 

 One of his new hires was Maurice Gray, who played on the 2007 national title winning team along with Vignery and has spent multiple years coaching in the KJCCC before coming back to El Dorado.

"Playing at Butler saved my life," said Gray. "It gave me an opportunity to better myself and continue with my education and playing career. It's a blessing to be able to come back and teach young men and help and show them how to do things. It was a no brainer when Brice called me with the offer, that's my brother."

The family atmosphere of Butler doesn't just extend to coaching. The Grizzlies have a history of players starting their careers with Butler specifically because they have had parents, grandparents or other family members play with the Grizzlies. Mason Thrash, who plays linebacker for Butler, Chance Omli, a defensive back and Seth Falley, who graduated last year after a three-year career as a center, are recent examples of legacies in the Butler Football program.

"A lot of people talk about family and everyone has family on the back of their shirt, but I think here that's really the case and people can see it," mentioned Haremza. "I think that's the reason you get a lot of legacies and guys coming back."

"It's a special thing that I think we can all take a lot of pride in," finished Woodall.

"When you bring in the right group of guys and you win championships, it's a special time in your life and you want your kids and grandkids to live through that," Vignery said.

"I think that's what makes this place so special, you're going to have a legitimate chance to win a championship every year and you're going to meet your best friends here, and I think the culture that is built around this program was set way before I got here and it's my job now to keep it going."