Butler Football Picked 3rd in Coaches Poll, Vignery Discusses 2024 Season

WICHITA, Kan. – The 2024 KJCCC football preseason coaches' poll was released at the conference's annual media day on Friday afternoon at Riverfront Stadium.

The Grizzlies were projected to finish third in the seven team conference. The predicted order of finish saw Hutchinson picked to win the title for a second consecutive season, followed by Garden City, Butler, Highland, Independence and Coffeyville tied for fifth and Dodge City rounding things out in seventh.

2024 KJCCCC Preseason Coaches' Poll

1. Hutchinson

2. Garden City

3. Butler

4. Highland

T5. Coffeyville

T5. Independence

7. Dodge City

A season ago Butler finished in fifth with a 2-4 record in league play. Butler will open its 94th season of action this year with fall camp beginning on Thursday, August 1st.

Butler head coach Brice Vignery got a chance to speak to media members in attendance along with the six other head coaches and preview the upcoming season.

CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE FULL MEDIA DAY PRESS CONFERENCE

"It's alwayas good to be here because that means football is right around the corner," Vignery said. "I'm very humbled and grateful to lead this program into the 2024 season. We were able to add 22 Kansas kids to our roster, seven of which played in the Kansas Shrine Bowl. Keeping guys in the state on our roster is super important for the success of Butler."

"Just like everyone else we are going to be a young football team and through fall camp there will be a lot of competition."

Vignery went on to note a handful of returning players from last seasons team in defensive linemen Jaden Roper, Kenton Simmons and Seth LeClaire, offensive tackle Jahkye Irby, running back Vinny Smith, linebacker Landon Boss, kicker Aidan Battle, wide receiver Justin Stephens and punter Chevy Edwards. Roper, Simmons, Battle, Stephens and Edwards each earned all-conference honors in 2023.

Vignery also noted the changes to his coaching staff in the offseason. The full coaching staff can be seen below.

Brice Vignery - Head Coach (3rd season as HC, 15th at Butler)

Kyle Woodall - Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers/Strength and Conditioning (3rd season as DC, 9th at Butler)

Rob Messinger - Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks (1st season as OC, 2nd at Butler)

Jake Landoll - Associate Head Coach/Defensive Line (3rd season)

Maurice Gray - Defensive Backs/Defensive Pass Game Coordinator (3rd season)

Brady Foltz - Offensive Line (1st season as OL coach, 3rd at Butler)

David May - Tight Ends/Offensive Pass Game Coordinator/Special Teams (1st Season)

Isaiah Gray - Cornerbacks (3rd season)

Austin Roberts - Defensive Ends (1st season)

Edward Parson - Running Backs (1st season)

The 2024 season kicks off for Butler at home as NEO A&M travels to BG Products Veterans Sports Complex on Saturday, August 31st, for a 7 p.m. kickoff in week one.

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