Minneapolis, MN – North Central University (NCU) Athletics is happy to announce Delaney Butler as its next Head Coach for Cross Country and Track & Field. Coach Butler has made a profound impact as an assistant coach for the Rams and looks to build upon the positive momentum of recent seasons. Delaney officially begins her new position today, July 14th, 2025. 

Butler spent the past two seasons (2023-2025) as an assistant coach with the Rams, working primarily with cross country and the track & field distance squads. In the 2023-24 track season, she mainly led the distance team. In the 2024-25 season, her coaching responsibilities expanded to include distance, mid-distance, steeplechase, weight throw, hammer throw, javelin, and assisting with indoor shot put. Coach Butler has led 9 student-athletes to NCCAA Nationals appearances and UMAC honors in both cross country and track. She has also coached athletes to podium finishes at the UMAC Conference Championships in the DMR, 4x4 relay, 4x8 relay, 1600m, steeplechase, and the javelin throw. In his first season, Zak Ruhland broke the UMAC meet record and was ranked 103rd in DIII in the javelin throw under Butler's leadership. In addition to her collegiate coaching, she also recently became an assistant coach at Top Self Training, an AAU track and field program in the Twin Cities. She works with athletes in shot put, mid-distance, and javelin at TST.

Prior to joining North Central, Butler competed for five seasons (2018-2023) at Concordia University St. Paul (CSP), an NCAA Division II institution in St. Paul, MN. As a member of the cross country and track teams, she specialized in the 3k, 5k, and 10k events and also competed in the javelin throw during the summer of 2022. A strong academic and team leader, she earned NSIC All-Academic Team honors in the fall, winter, and spring during both 2019 and 2020. Butler served as team captain for the 2021 cross country team and was a distance team leader in the spring of 2023. She also competed in the NSIC Cross Country Championships in both 2018 and 2019.

Butler graduated from Concordia-St. Paul in 2022 with a bachelor's degree in History and completed her master's degree in Coaching and Athletic Administration in December of 2024.

A native of Nowthen, Minnesota, Butler is a proud alum of Anoka High School, where she competed in cross country, track & field, and Nordic skiing. Outside of coaching, she enjoys spending time with her friends, family, and dog. Her hobbies include photography and continuing to throw hammer and javelin during the summer months.

"I have always wanted to coach on some level, but the older I got, the more I realized that God was specifically pushing me towards coaching as a career," said Butler. She exclaimed, "I have always loved track and field and have been so blessed by the best coaches throughout my 11-year career that inspired me to pursue coaching. I am so grateful for my time being an assistant at North Central, and stepping into this role as the head coach is a dream come true. I am most excited to cultivate a team atmosphere that grows the athletes' relationship with the Lord, and to continue to build off of the competitive momentum we've built the last two years."

Director of Athletics, George Arroyo Jr. had this to say about Coach Butler: "We're excited to welcome Delaney back to NCU in a new role as Head Cross Country and Track & Field Coach. Delaney brings a heart for discipleship, a deep care for student-athletes, and a strong vision for competitive excellence. Her familiarity with our program, passion for spiritual growth, and consistent presence last season laid important groundwork that she'll now continue to build upon. Delaney played a meaningful role in the team's progress last year, and she'll be a steady and encouraging influence as she helps shape the next chapter of our program."

Welcome and congratulations, Delaney!