EL DORADO — Butler Athletic Director Todd Carter announced Thursday morning that Brice Vignery, former offensive coordinator the past seven seasons, has been elevated to head coach making him the 24th head coach in program history.
"I am really excited about having Brice take over this program," commented Athletic Director Todd Carter. "He has been with this program since his playing days and know it inside and out having served in almost every role possible. He will now get the opportunity to lead this historic program moving forward."
Vignery played wide receiver at Butler in 2006-2008 under hall of fame coach Troy Morrell losing just one game over his two-year career finishing 23-1 and winning a National Championship. He went on to Kansas State University playing his final two seasons under another legendary coach in Bill Snyder.
Knowing he wanted to get into coaching and knowing he wanted to learn from his former coach, Vignery returned to Butler as a volunteer coach in 2010. He lived on a couch and was an assistant wide receiver's coach during that season that saw the Grizzlies go 11-1. Vignery took a paying job at Kansas Wesleyan the next season but that wasn't for him as he returned to Butler in 2012 and has been with the Grizzlies ever since.
Starting out washing jerseys and checking out equipment, Vignery continued to grow and learn each day from the best coaches in the business in Troy Morrell, Steve Braet, Tim Schaffner and a handful of others. As the seasons went on, Vignery took on more and more duties as an assistant learning the ins and outs of the program both on and off the field. In 2014, when Troy Morrell stepped away from coaching giving the job to Tim Schaffner, Vignery was elevated to the offensive coordinator where he has been the last seven seasons.
He will now, after spending 13 total years in the program, get the opportunity to lead the Grizzlies from the driver's seat, a seat which he has prepared his entire career for.
"It feels kind of surreal," said Vignery, "but this is definitely one of the greatest days in my professional career. This is such a great community and storied program I very excited to get to work. I have prepared for this role my entire career and I am so happy that I get my first head coaching job at a place so near and dear to my heart."
Vignery will need to fill a few open spots on staff and hit the recruiting trail in preparation for the upcoming National Signing Day on Wednesday, February 2, 2022.
"I am excited to lead a very prestigious program and school. This is an opportunity of a lifetime and I look forward to the challenge."