By Gene Robbins, Managing Editor
When pro football’s Tampa Bay Buccaneers reached into New Jersey for coaching leadership last winter, it ultimately led to a new job and challenge for Hillsborough native Jay Butler.
The Bucs plucked Rutgers University Coach Greg Schiano as their head man, and Mr. Schiano in turn reached down into his staff to ask Mr. Butler to join him in Florida as the head strength and conditioning coach.
Mr. Butler has family and friends in Hillsborough who are rooting for him and testify they believe he has the drive and background to succeed.
They know one thing: Nobody will give more of themselves.
”You work hard,” said Mr. Butler. “You only know one way to coach.”
Mr. Butler’s challenge is to make his athletes ready to undergo the demands and stress of an often violent, physical, high-speed game.
”One big difference is dealing with athletes who are serious about what they do and know they have to work to participate at the highest level of competition and physical development,” said Mr. Butler in a break during training camp in August.
The difference between collegians and professionals is not concentrating as much on developing skills as finetuning them, and preparing the athletes to outmuscle, outsprint and out-throw peers at the top of their profession.
Mr. Butler knows the demands. In 11 years at Rutgers, he helped prepare dozens of Scarlet Knights who ultimately had a shot in the pros. And he was there himself; he was an offensive lineman for the New York Giants for a year before injuring a knee. He trained on, gaining a spot on the Miami Arena League indoor football team before hurting his other knee, said his father, Fred.
The Butler family has lived on Amwell Road for more than 40 years. Their neighbor and close family friend for all that time has been Norm Hewitt, the school’s longtime head baseball coach.
Mr. Hewitt calls Mr. Butler a “climb to the top” story, starting with young Jay’s trip to Giants Stadium as a 10-year-old in the state’s Punt, Pass and Kick competition. (Jay Butler chuckled at thinking of a photo of himself practicing in the backyard in plaid pants.)
Jay was always bigger than his peers, his father said, and, at 6-5 and 250 pounds as an offensive lineman in his high school senior season, he towered over his fellow linemen when they broke the huddle. Mr. Hewitt called him a “gentle giant” who blossomed in his final years at Hillsborough High to be named 1987’s scholar-athlete, going on to earn All American status at college and a shot at the pros.
”It’s a great story of a home-grown hero and role model,” said Hewitt. “He’s another Hillsborough success story.”
Mr. Butler’s job is to prepare his guys to perform at the highest level. Football is a game of power, speed and explosiveness, he said, and, when athletes are physically prepared, there’s less chance for an injury, less fatigue and fuller and faster recovery from practice and games, he said.
”If you in condition, you handle the demands of the position well,” said Mr. Butler.
To accomplish those goals, there’s no way but to invest in long training days, he said.
Mr. Butler has never been known to shirk from the challenge of work. As a teen he worked out on Nautilus equipment at the Hillsborough Racquet Club on Amwell Road, and at the Physical Edge on Homestead Road, he said.
He father said the work ethic helped his son develop into an All-American offensive lineman at Bucknell University, earning him the attention of the pros and a shot with the Giants.
When he reported at Bucknell, Jay was 6-5, 259 pounds, he said. He grew to 6-7 and 305 as a pro.
”I never would have had a chance to play with the Giants if wasn’t for the work I did in the weight room through college,” he said.
Mr. Butler, who turns 43 next week, spent 11 seasons at Rutgers, first as head football strength and conditioning coordinator (2001-03) and then as assistant athletic director for strength and conditioning/head football strength and conditioning coach (2004-11).
During that time, Mr. Butler was called to combine his mechanical engineering background and love of conditioning to help redesign the Hale Center to a state-of-the-art, 15,500-square-foot strength and conditioning facility that incorporates the latest technologies, including digital video analysis, a 60-yard FieldTurf track and other amenities to complete one of the nation’s premier facilities.
He was recognized for his accomplishments. In March of 2007, Butler was recognized Samson’s Division I-A Strength and Conditioning Coach of the Year.
In his son’s tenure at Rutgers, said Fred Butler, 75 or 80 kids signed pro contracts “and I like to say my son had a lot to do with that.” Working with all-star players like running back Ray Rice, wide receiver Kenny Britt and twins Jason and Devon McCourty, gave him a background into what pro athletes are like and what they need, said Fred Butler.
The Bucs’ PR department said Mr. Butler’s program developed 16 eventual NFL draft picks, including 13 in the last drafts from 2007-11. The Scarlet Knights produced three first-round picks in the last three drafts.
One of Mr. Butler’s greatest admirers in Hillsborough is family friend Norm Hewitt, the school’s longtime head baseball coach.
Hillsborough has had pro players like Ricky Proehl, Shaun O’Hara and Jared Jones, but “Jay has taken it to a whole other level,” said Mr. Hewitt, by “working his tail off.”
”You watch the Bucs over the next few years,” said Mr. Hewitt. “I anticipate a new approach, especially when it comes to discipline and conditioning.”
Mr. Hewitt believes Mr. Butler will succeed because he’ll set down expectations, give clear demands, allow no wasted time — “and the rest is up to you,” he said.
Mr. Butler’s father thinks his son possesses the dedication, willingness to work and ability relate to players as positive attributes. His son’s attitude “kind of reminds me of a Bill Parcells — light but serious,” said his father.
Fred and Ginger Butler plan to be at Sunday’s season opener versus the Carolina Panthers in Tampa. Mr. Butler said he and his wife miss their four grandchildren (ages 4 to 10) terribly, and will likely extend their normal winter stays in Florida to spend more time with Jay, Jo Ann and the four kids.
Mr. Hewitt said he’s already sworn to new NFL allegiances.
”Go Bucs,” he said, as he hung up the phone.

