Butler Interim Head Coach Chris Holtmann took another step toward the start of the 2014-15 season by filling two open positions on his staff. Holtmann announced that former Butler players Emerson Kampen and Brandon Crone will be taking on new roles with the Bulldogs this season.
Kampen, already on staff as a graduate assistant, will fill the assistant coaching position that was vacated when Holtmann was appointed interim head coach. Crone, who had been serving as an assistant coach at Nova Southeastern, is taking over as Butler’s Director of Basketball Operations, a position that’s been open since T. J. Saint left to become video coordinator for the Detroit Pistons in July.
"We are excited about the increased role of Emerson and the addition of Brandon to our staff," said Holtmann. "Emerson has been a part of some of the most accomplished teams in the history of our program and, while young, he has an impressive basketball IQ and terrific rapport with our players."
"Brandon has a great appreciation and understanding of the Butler Way and as a player here, he was tough, competitive and driven, leading his team to the most wins in program history at the time. Brandon has great experience as both a professional player and as an assistant coach at the college level, and we’re pleased to welcome him back."
Kampen, a former Yorktown High School standout and a 2013 marketing graduate of Butler, handled a a variety of duties in his position with the Butler’s basketball staff last year. Most recently, he assumed many of the administrative duties formerly handled by Saint, including team travel.
A four-year lettrwinner with the Bulldogs, Kampen was a member of the most successful teams in Butler basketball history. He was in uniform when the Bulldogs made back-to-back appearances in the national championship game, and he was a co-captain of Butler’s 2012-13 team, which posted a 27-9 record and advanced to the third round of the NCAA Tournament. During Kampen’s four seasons, Butler compiled a 110-39 record and made four straight postseason tournament appearances!
Crone, a two-time All-State player at Frankfort High School in Indiana, was a four-year letterwinner and two-time team captain with the Bulldogs, 2003-07. He was named team Most Valuable Player of the 2006-07 Butler team, which compiled a 29-7 record and advanced to the NCAA Sweet 16. Crone, who helped lead the Bulldogs to 49 victories and two postseason tournament berths over his final two seasons, earned a marketing degree from Butler in 2007.
Following his collegiate career, Crone went on to play professional basketball in Europe for three seasons, before returning to Indiana as an assistant basketball coach at Park tudor High School. He joined Coach Gary Tuell’s basketball staff at Nova Southeastern in the summer of 2011.
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