Drake University Athletics

CJ Butt joined the Drake football coaching staff in the summer of 2022 as a defensive assistant coach working with the corners. Butt took over the role of defensive backs coach and video coordinator in the spring of 2023. His recruiting areas include the Chicago suburbs and Wisconsin.

Butt arrived to Drake after a two-year stint at South Dakota State as a defensive graduate assistant primarily working with the Jackrabbit linebackers. He helped SDSU to a Missouri Valley Football Conference championship and an appearance in the 2020 FCS National Title game (played in spring of 2021). Butt later aided the Jackrabbits to an FCS playoffs semi-finals appearance in the fall of 2021 while coaching a pair of All-American linebackers.

The Shrewsbury, Mass., native was also a graduate assistant at Sacred Heart from 2018-20. While with the Pioneers, he worked with the linebacker group and served as video coordinator. Butt had a part in SHU’s 2018 NEC Championship.

As a coach in professional football ranks, Butt worked with the defensive backs of the Arizona Rattlers in the spring of 2018 while also carrying the title of video and scouting intern.

Butt graduated from Kent State in 2017 with a degree in sports administration.