West promotes Butler to girls’ swimming post

IOWA CITY - Iowa City West Athletics Director Scott Kibby announced the hiring of Byron Butler as girls' swimming coach on Tuesday.

Butler, 23, replaces Rob Miecznikowski, who had been coaching both the girls' and boys' swim programs at West. For the past two years, Butler served as an assistant coach for Miecznikowski with both programs. Miecznikowski's resignation will not alter his role as boys' swimming coach, and he plans to help the girls' program as an assistant.

'Coach Butler brings a tremendous amount of enthusiasm and excitement to all work that he undertakes,” Kibby said in a press release. 'His technical knowledge of all strokes and training methods is outstanding. We look forward to his leadership in our program.”

Butler, a native of New Berlin, Wis., swam collegiately for the University of Iowa from 2009-13. At the time of his graduation, Butler held school records in the 100-yard backstroke, 200 backstroke, 100-yard butterfly and two relays - the 200-yard medley and 400 medley.

West returns senior twins Erica and Alison Hsu from last fall's 5-3 squad. Erica Hsu has five career top-10 finishes at the state meet, including fourth in the 500-yard freestyle and sixth in the 200-yard individual medley last November.

Here is the complete press release from the school:

West High School

Athletic Office

2901 Melrose Ave

Iowa City, IA 52246

Tuesday, May 26, 2015

Press Release:

Byron Butler has been named Head Girls' Swimming and Diving Coach at Iowa City West High School pending board approval.

Coach Butler was a successful athlete both at the high school and collegiate level. In Wisconsin he was a 3 time individual state champion in his prep days. Twice he was state champion in the butterfly and once in the backstroke and on each occasion his times qualified him for automatic All-American status. He swam collegiately at the University of Iowa where he broke two school records in the 200 Backstroke and 100 Butterfly along with being a member of 2 medley relays that broke school records. He was a NCAA qualifier as a member of those relay teams and earned Honorable Mention All-American. During his days at Iowa he was a Scholastic All-American, Team Captain and MVP of the Hawkeye swim team his senior year.

Coach Butler student taught in science during the spring of 2013 and joined the West swim staff as an assistant in both boys and girls swimming for the 13-14 school year. He contributed to the back to back state titles in Boys' Swimming for West High.

West athletic director Scott Kibby is excited about Coach Butler and his ability to continue the level of success West has had in Swimming. 'Coach Butler brings a tremendous amount of enthusiasm and excitement to all work that he undertakes. His technical knowledge of all strokes and training methods is outstanding. We look forward to his leadership in our program.”

Scott Kibby

Athletic Director

West High School

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