We reported this a few weeks ago as a rumor – it’s now official…. Alabama native Ronald Nored will be returning to his home state as the former Butler standout was named men’s basketball assistant coach at the University of South Alabama.
New head coach Matthew Graves announced Tuesday that the Homewood product is the second assistant to join Graves’ staff.
Nored comes to USA after spending one season as the head coach at Brownsburg (Ind.) High School.
“I am extremely excited for the opportunity to join Coach Graves’ staff,” Nored said. “In the four years I played for him I saw his unbelievable knowledge and dedication to make us the best we can be. I look forward to being a part of a staff that does things the right way, and allows young men to become better basketball players and people.”
In his lone season as a head coach, Nored rallied BHS from a 3-8 start to finish 11-10 on the year.
During his distinguished playing career, Nored set a Butler record with 143 games played—appearing in a school-record 16 postseason games—and led the Bulldogs to three Horizon League regular season championships, two league tournament titles and four consecutive trips to postseason tournament play, including back-to-back appearances in the NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Championship national title game. Butler won 109 games during his four years and went 12-4 in postseason play.
“Ron is the best leader that I have ever coached,” Graves said. “His ability to raise the energy level by simply walking in the room is amazing. He will be an outstanding role model for our student-athletes.”
As a senior Nored led the Horizon League in assist/turnover ratio (1.9), was second in assists per game (5.2) while setting a new school mark with 193 assists, smashing the previous record of 172. His career total of 497 ranks second on Butler’s career list.
Also in that season he became the second player in school history to record 400 points, 400 rebounds and 400 assists in a career.
Nored was honored after the season with Second Team All-Horizon League recognition and was named a Lowe’s Senior CLASS Award First Team All-American, presented for notable achievement in four areas of excellence – community, classroom, character and competition.
His work in the classroom also earned him a spot on the 2012 Capital One Academic All-America Second Team, becoming the sixth Butler player to earn Academic All-America distinction.
A two-time Horizon League Defensive Player of the Year and three-year member of the League’s All-Defensive Team, Nored is tied for the top spot at Butler for career steals with 207, including 66 and 67 in his senior and sophomore years, respectively.
In Butler’s four postseason appearances, Nored totaled 84 points, which are tied for sixth on the school’s all-time postseason scoring chart.
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