Butcher Named LEC Coach of the Year

NORTH DARTMOUTH, Mass. – The Little East Conference office announced its annual men's soccer All-Little East teams and major award winners this afternoon after a vote by the conference's eight head coaches. Keene State head coach Dr. Ron Butcher was tabbed as the Coach of the Year for the second-straight season.

In addition to the major awards program, the Little East honored 25 student-athletes on the all-conference teams. The first team was comprised of 13 players, while the second team was represented by 12 student-athletes.

Earning 1st team All-LEC honors, sophomore Scott Douglas (East Greenwich, R.I.) and junior Blake Nyman (Plymouth, Mass.) each had stellar seasons for the Owls in 2011. Junior midfielder Danny Silverman (Maynard, Mass.) rounded out the KSC awards with a second team all-conference selection.

Butcher is making his second-straight and fourth overall appearance as the Little East Coach of the Year. He guided Keene State to an overall record of 11-8-1, marking the 14th time in the past 15 years the Owls have reached double digits in victories since moving to Division III in 1997. Keene State played a grueling schedule in 2011 with seven of its 19 opponents earning a berth into the NCAA tournament. The Owls posted a 5-2 mark within the conference circuit to earn the No. 2 seed in the annual Little East Men's Soccer Championship Tournament. Keene State edged Rhode Island College, 3-2, in overtime to reach to the program's ninth championship final. Butcher mentored three student-athletes on the All-Little East teams, including two first-team selections.