Only the sixth collegiate coach to reach the coveted 500-career-win plateau, Dr. Ron Butcher is the dean of men's soccer coaches in New England. Now in his 38th season at Keene State, Butcher, who ranks second all-time in wins (534) among Division III coaches, has had success at all levels of competition, leading the Owls to 30 postseason tournament appearances, and including NCAA Division III berths nine out of the past 11 years.

A master motivator and strategist, Butcher led the Owls to their ninth NCAA tournament appearance last fall. Bouncing back from a slow start, KSC posted wins over perennial powers Williams College and eventual NCAA champs Middlebury College. In 2005, Butcher's team upset Wheaton College (4-1) and advanced to the NCAA regional finals. In 2004, KSC posted regular season wins over Williams, Wheaton, and Middlebury on the way to capturing the LEC title and hosting the regional NCAA tournament. Butcher was named the New England Region Coach of the Year by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America in 2002 after he led third-seeded KSC to upset wins over Wheaton College and Williams College and a third Little East tournament championship. His 2003 squad reached the ECAC tournament finals.

Since arriving at Keene State in 1970, Coach Butcher has been the chief architect in building an Owl soccer program that has amassed an impressive 525-200-64 mark during his 37-year tenure. Consider also the large number of All-America, All-New England, and All-Conference players who have worn a KSC uniform over the years, and it's easy to see why Keene State has one of the elite soccer programs in the region.

Owner of an overall 534-214-65 (.697 pct.) career mark over 39 years, Butcher celebrated his milestone 500th win with a 2-0 victory over Western Conn. on Sept. 17, 2005. Inducted into the KSC Alumni Athletic Hall of Fame in 2005, the Owls' longtime soccer guru has been recognized often for his coaching accomplishments. He was awarded NAIA Coach of the Year honors in 1974 and 1981, was named the NEISL Division II New England Coach of the Year in 1991, and received LEC coaching honors in 1999 and 2002.

Originally from Weston, Mass., Butcher attended Plymouth State College, where he spent four years tending goal for the Panthers. He coached two seasons at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville before coming to Keene State. During his coaching career, which includes more than 800 contests, Butcher has maintained his enthusiasm for the game.

A player on Coach Butcher's earlier teams, Rick Scott now enters his ninth season as an associate coach after serving six years as an assistant.

An All-New England and All-Conference sweeper for the Owls during the mid-'70s, Scott played on several NAIA tournament teams at KSC. After his playing career, the Claremont, N.H., native served 11 seasons as head coach at Keene High School, leading the boy's varsity team to a pair of Class L titles and a 126-35-12 record. He also started the Cheshire Youth Soccer Club in 1994.

Elevated to Associate Coach last season, Kevin Chevalier begins his fifth season with the KSC program. A former four-year (1994-97) standout with the Owls, he will serve as KSC's freshmen team coach as well as help Head Coach Ron Butcher with the varsity program.

A fixture at midfield for the Owls, "Chevy" finished his career with 23 goals, 28 assists, and 74 points. Named to All-Region and All-Little East teams as a senior, Chevalier led KSC to a pair of post-season tournament appearances, including its first Division III NCAA berth in 1997.

Former Owl, Matt Caron has joined the Keene State College men's soccer coaching staff as goalie coach.  A technically sound netminder during his four-year (2002-05) Owl career, Caron will closely monitor Keene State's large and talented group of keepers.

After leaving Keene, Caron received his Master's degree in special education from Southern Connecticut State University and coached the Lisbon (Conn.) middle school team.   Last fall, he coached the girls' varsity team at Monadnock Regional High School.

Prior to joining the Owls, Caron, a native of Amston, Conn., was a two-year starter at RHAM High School who earned All-Conference honors as a senior.