Jason Butts has served as a coach for WVU Gymnastics since 2006. He took over the head coaching position in 2011, becoming the third head coach in program history. Read more: Spotlight on WVU Gymnastics Head Coach Jason Butts.
Career & coaching journey
Coach Butts is from Athens, Georgia, and performed as a gymnast for 10 years. During his career, he reached Class I status and he was a Junior Olympic National Qualifier. Butts received his Bachelor’s from Georgia in 2005, and later a Master’s in Athletic Coaching Education from WVU (2012).
After joining the WVU gymnastics squad, he steadily rose the ranks. From assistant, to assistant head coach, to finally head coach in 2011. Butts has a career record of 160-135-1 (.542) through almost 15 years leading the Mountaineers.
Program successes under Butts
Butts has successfully led WVU to 11 NCAA Regional Championship appearances. In 2015, the team recorded a program-best second place finish at the Big 12 Championships. Butts has also achieved some of the program’s highest team scores in years, with improvements each season of his tenure. In 2023, the Mountaineers achieved their highest total team score since 2004. They also scored Big 12 wins at home for the first time in years, and earned a bye into the NCAA Regional second round.
In 2024, the team surpassed 800 all-time wins, while Butts notched his 150th career victory. In 2025, WVU qualified for NCAA Regionals by climbing 18 spots in national rankings. West Virginia had regional qualifiers in multiple individual events.
Read related: A wild, wonderful first year for WV Sports Nation
Athletes & the classroom
It is clear that under Butts’ leadership, he has preached the importance of the classroom. Under his leadership, numerous gymnasts have excelled in the classroom, and during his time at head coach there have been multiple Academic All-Big 12 honorees and even WCGA Scholastic All-Americans.
Speaking of athletes, Coach Butts has had the opportunity to coach some extremely notable gymnastics. Looking into just last season, Anna Leigh, Karleigh DiCello, and Sophia Rice all qualified for regionals. Rice also earned All-Big 12 honors.
In 2023, Brooke Alban and Kianna Yancey were recognized for their 4.0 grade point average during the season. Impressively, Emily Holmes-Hackerd and Abbie Pierson were both named to receive the Dr. Gerald Lage Academic Achievement Award, which is the Big 12’s highest academic honor. In 2022, Kendra Combs and Abbie Pierson garnered WVU’s first Big 12 Gymnast of the Week accolades since 2019.
2026 season
Currently, the gymnastics team sits at 6-6 overall, and 1-1 in the Big 12. Their first competition of the season was in Gainesville, Florida. The Mountaineers challenged and fell to No. 3 Florida, No. 24 North Carolina, and Temple.
During and following the Women’s Empowerment Meet, however, WVU secured five back-to-back wins. The Mountaineers defeated Pitt, Cornell, Kent State, Iowa State, and Northern Illinois.
What’s next?
It is obvious that during his time as head coach, Jason Butts has emphasized player development in events and academics. He also has shown significant stability and commitment to the program and the players, seeing as he has been with the Mountaineers for 29 years now.
Up next, the Mountaineers are slated to take on Arizona State, Arizona, and BYU. As the season continues, West Virginia aims to build on its early momentum under Butts’ steady leadership, leaning on the foundation he has spent decades developing. With a focus on consistency and growth, the Mountaineers remain guided by a head coach whose long-term commitment continues to shape the program’s direction.
