Butler Community College Names Mike Helmer Director of Athletics

EL DORADO, Kan. – Butler Community College is pleased to announce that longtime head women's basketball coach Mike Helmer has been promoted to be the next Director of Athletics.

Helmer, who recently completed his 17th season at Butler as head women's basketball coach, will continue in that role for one more season (2025-26) while also overseeing the athletic department.

He becomes the 19th athletic director in Butler Community College history, taking over for Todd Carter who is the longest tenured athletic director in Grizzly history. Carter announced his retirement at the end of May, with Helmer set to take over on July 1st, 2025.

"Mike Helmer's longevity in the world of athletics and his connections to the broader community make him the ideal choice to carry on the tradition of our nationally recognized athletics program," Butler Community College Interim President Dr. Jackie Vietti said. "His skills as a strategic thinker and exceptional communicator are certain to serve Butler well and to take it to its next best level. He has an intimate understanding of the world of coaching, which will prove invaluable in working with Butler's coaching staff, which is the best of the best."

"I'm excited to work with Mike Helmer in this new role for him as the athletic director," Vice President of Student Services Bill Rinkenbaugh said. "Mike brings a strong background in leadership, communication, and community connections that will be an asset as we move forward with the athletic department. His dedication to student-athletes both inside the classroom and on the court will be an asset to all of our programs moving forward!"

Helmer began his tenure as head women's basketball coach at Butler in 2008 and has won over 70% of his games with an overall record of 382-155 (.711). Under Helmer's direction, Butler has won five Kansas Jayhawk Community College Conference regular season titles, two NJCAA Region 6 Championships and have made three NJCAA National Tournament appearances with a fourth being canceled due to covid-19 during the 2019-20 season. He has also been named the KJCCC Coach of the Year four different times.

The Grizzlies first two years under Helmer saw them go 14-17 in both years as he worked to rebuild the program. Since then, Butler has turned in 15 consecutive winning seasons with 13 of those 15 being 20+ win seasons. Helmer has guided the Grizzlies to become a mainstay at the top of the conference. In the last 10 seasons Butler has finished outside the top-five in the KJCCC standings just once.

"I am truly honored to be the next Athletic Director at Butler Community College," Helmer said. "I would like to thank Dr. Vietti and Bill Rinkenbaugh for this opportunity. Butler Athletics has a long-standing tradition of excellence, built by outstanding coaches and strong leadership—most recently under Todd Carter. I've learned a great deal from TC over the years, and I look forward to continuing the legacy of success that defines Butler Athletics. I can't wait to get to work with our amazing coaches as well as administrators Michaela Serrioz and Trey Burnett."

Helmer has coached every All-American in program history, with eight being selected under his watch. The 2013-14 team broke nearly every single-season school record on their way to Butler's first ever appearance in the NJCAA women's national tournament. The Grizzlies went 34-3, including an undefeated 12-0 record in conference play. The conference title was the first for Butler since 1995. Along the way, Butler won 30 straight games. The Grizzlies finished sixth in the final national rankings and reached the "Elite 8" in the national tournament. The 2018-19 season saw Helmer and the Grizzlies win the program's first ever Region 6 championship.

In 17 out of 18 seasons, Helmer has seen multiple student-athletes move on to continue their athletic and academic careers at four-year universities.

Helmer has coached a host of NJCAA All-Academic honorees. His teams routinely post 3.00 GPA's or higher with the 2024-25 squad finishing with a 3.31 mark in the classroom.

He began his coaching career at Wichita South High School in 2002 and served in that role until coming to Butler in 2008. At Wichita South, Helmer led the Titans to unprecedented heights including a 6A runner-up finish. During his tenure at South High, Helmer coached multiple student-athletes who went on to play collegiate basketball.

A Marion, Kan., native, Helmer graduated from Marion High School and went on to play collegiate basketball at Pratt Community College and later Kansas Wesleyan University.

Helmer and his wife Kristina reside in El Dorado with their children, Anderson and Carson.