Woodall to Serve as Interim Head Coach for 2025 Season

EL DORADO, Kan. – Butler Community College Director of Athletics Todd Carter announced that Kyle Woodall will serve as the Interim Head Football Coach of the Grizzlies for the 2025 season. Woodall has been serving in the same position since March 17th.

"I'm excited to see what Kyle can do with this opportunity," said Carter. "With Coach (Brice) Vignery leaving during the spring, we felt the best move was to keep the team and as much of the coaching staff intact as we could for this upcoming season. We didn't want to rush into a decision just a few months out from the 2025 season and put anyone in a bad situation. Kyle knows the Butler landscape and he did a tremendous job leading the program throughout spring ball, and the student-athletes echoed that. We want to give him all the resources necessary to succeed. The program will be reevaluated following the end of the season, but we have full confidence that Kyle will be successful."

Woodall has served as Butler's defensive coordinator for the last three seasons, also coaching the linebackers and heading up the Grizzly strength and conditioning program. He has spent the past 10 seasons on staff at Butler in some capacity.

Woodall's defense in 2024 allowed just 14.7 points per game in conference play, second best in the league while the 16.9 points per game allowed in all games ranked seventh best across all of NJCAA Division 1. The Grizzly defense led the league in conference play with nine interceptions while racking up a conference-high 20 sacks. Butler held six opponents under 20 points and three under 10 points. He mentored two defensive All-Americans in linebacker Landon Boss and defensive tackle Seven Cloud in 2024.

The 2023 Grizzly defense held six opponents to 20 or fewer points under Woodall's watch. The Grizzlies recovered 12 fumbles, the most in the conference. The Butler defense shined in a 45-10 win on the road at No. 3 ranked Iowa Central, shutting the Tritons out in the second half and tallying six sacks in the game. Butler shut out eventual NJCAA national champion Iowa Western in the second half of a 28-21 loss. Six of the seven Reiver second half drives ended in punts. Woodall had seven All-KJCCC selections on his defense including an NJCAA All-American in Marlin Dean. Of Woodall's linebacker core, three signed with NCAA Division 1 teams with Udoka Ezeani (Boise State), Eunique Valentine (Missouri State) and Demarcious Robinson (Georgia Southern) all moving on to the next level.

Butler had a strong defensive unit in Woodall's first season as defensive coordinator in 2022. The Grizzlies finished with a conference leading 20 interceptions and held six opponents under 20 points and three to under 10 as they finished 8-4 and claimed the program's 17th all-time bowl victory in a 28-24 win over Kilgore in the Heart of Texas Bowl.

Prior to being named defensive coordinator, Woodall served in various roles within the program since 2015 such as linebackers coach and running backs coach.

"The head coaching position at Butler is one with incredible legacy," said Woodall. "I will do my best to walk amongst giants. For 10 years my passion and commitment to Butler has been fueled by the sacrifice and loyalty of so many great players and coaches. None of this is possible without them."

Woodall played at Butler from 2006-2007 as a linebacker/defensive back. He helped the Grizzlies to a 23-1 overall record as well as winning the Region 6 and Jayhawk Conference championships both seasons.

In 2007, Woodall was a team captain on Butler's NJCAA National Championship squad that finished with a perfect 12-0 record. During that season, Woodall earned honorable mention All-Jayhawk Conference honors at safety.

Following Butler, Woodall continued his playing career at Sam Houston State University and later Washburn University.

A Salina, Kan., native, Woodall played at Salina Central High School, where he was a two-time All-State safety and was a team captain on the Mustangs' 2005 Class 5A undefeated state championship team.

Woodall began his football coaching career at Gardner-Edgerton High School, where he coached the safeties and linebackers for four seasons before joining the Butler staff.