Chelsie Butler joined the Youngstown State women's basketball program in October 2021. She serves as the team's recruiting coordinator on head coach John Barnes' staff.
As part of her duties with the Penguins, Butler oversees YSU's recruiting efforts while also assisting with scouting, practice preparation, camps and individual workouts.Â
Butler was instrumental in the Penguins bringing in four talented student-athletes for the 2022-23 season. Mackenzie Hurd signed in November to join the program as a freshman, and Dena Jarrells, Shay-Lee Kirby and Emily Saunders all committed to transfer from Division I institutions in the spring.
In her first season, she worked individually with three of the Penguins’ wings. YSU went on to win 24 games, share the conference crown and earn the Horizon League’s automatic bid to the Women’s NIT. After an 8-0 start, YSU followed a loss at Penn State with a seven-game winning streak from Dec. 17 through Jan. 14. YSU then had a five-game winning streak in February, giving the Penguins three separate winning streaks of at least five games for the second season in school history (also in 1996-97). YSU set a new school record for conference wins, regardless of conference with 18, and the Penguins also tied the Horizon League record for conference wins, matching IUPUI in 2021-22 and Green Bay in 2008-09 and 2010-11. At 9-0, YSU had its best start ever to conference play.
She has shifted her focus to the talented group of posts in 2022-23.
A Northeast Ohio native, Butler came to Youngstown State after spending the previous four seasons at Southeastern Louisiana. Prior to her time in Hammond, La., Butler was the graduate manager on the women's basketball staff at Akron.
During Butler's tenure with the Lady Lions, the team went from 12th place in the Southland Conference up to second. Butler was in charge of Southeastern's post players, opponent scouting and out-of-bounds plays. She also assisted with the team's offensive schemes and recruiting, oversaw all camps and clinics, and was tasked with the program's equipment and gear orders.
Butler spent four seasons playing at Marquette, where she averaged 5.4 points and 3.5 rebounds during her collegiate career. She was the All-Ohio Co-Player of the Year at Minerva High School in Ohio as a senior and was inducted into her alma mater’s Hall of Fame in 2017.Â
Butler earned her bachelor’s degree in broadcasting from Marquette in 2015. In 2017, she earned her master’s degree in coaching from Akron.
Coaching Timeline
2021-Present — Youngstown State Assistant Coach/Recruiting Coordinator
2017-21 — Southeastern Louisiana Assistant Coach
2015-17 — Akron Graduate Manager
