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Tuesday, November 25, 2025 | 11:01 am
Austin Butler had a keen eye for detail when he played basketball at a high level, and now he’s applying the same meticulous attention to coaching.
The first-year Hempfield boys coach makes sure to film every practice so he can circle the teaching moments. He doesn’t want to waste even a moment in trying to make his team a winner.
“There may be some bad clips that we see, but the details and advice will be positive,” said Butler, a former Latrobe star who played Division I college basketball at Holy Cross and Charlotte. “I want us to improve every day. I want them to destroy what used to be here and rebuild the culture.”
Butler replaces Bill Swann, who resigned after 19 years and two tenures with the program, a tumultuous second tenure following multiple investigations into undisclosed allegations against the veteran coach.
Accountability is the cornerstone of Butler’s coaching philosophy. He wants complete buy-in from his group.
,A player told me, ‘Coach, winning is hard,’, said Butler, 26. ,
Hempfield has only one returning starter in 6-foot-2 senior guard Danny Husenitz. He is one of 11 seniors who were on last year’s roster.
“The question is, can Danny be an assertive leader?” Butler said. “Can he be a voice for us?”
Husenitz, who averaged 14 points, said his goal is to keep a loud voice around the team.
“The team’s goal is definitely to improve throughout the season and finish on top of the section,” he said. “My biggest focus for my role is to improve as a leader and be more vocal to people in practice and games.”
The senior group includes Dom DeTruff, Jack Kopas and Trevor Donsen, all of whom saw playing time last season when the Spartans finished 9-12 and missed the playoffs. They lost five of their last six games, losing 49–32 to Norwin in the section finals while interim coach Mark Katarski was managing the team.
Katarski now coaches the Mount Pleasant boys.
Other seniors are Cooper Santangelo, Evan Scheer, Charles Burton, Luke Williams (6-3), Anthony Amatucci (6-3), Alexander Wykes (6-2) and Reese Sekerchak.
Junior Lucas Simmons is a developing player to watch in the backcourt.
The Spartans were always competitive in games under Swann, and Butler expects the same.
Hempfield took eventual third-seeded Imani Christian to overtime last year and lost 63-61. They also lost to the Saints, 72–68.
“We have a lot of talent here,” Butler said. “The steps we’ve been able to take (from summer to fall) have been day and night. Guys have been putting in the work. I’ve asked a lot of them. I think we’ve laid the foundation. Now we’re filling in the pieces. Now it’s, can you step up every day and get better?”
Butler wants his Spartans to play fast like his old Latrobe teams.
“Fast and free,” said the rookie coach. “I want to teach them how to play basketball without looking at me. The faster you play, the more free they are. I call it structured freedom.”
Butler’s staff will include his brother, Bryce, a Latrobe alumnus and former Division II standout at West Liberty; Cason Harrell, who played at Hempfield and Purdue Fort Wayne before a professional career in Ireland; and Norwin alumnus Dante Rizzo.
While the schedule had already been made before Butler’s appointment, Hempfield began the season on 2 December at home against – who else? – Latrobe.
Hempfield Boys at a glance
coach: Austin Butler
Last year’s record: 9-12 (4-10 Section 2-6A)
Returning Starters: Danny Husenitz (Sr., G)
Others worth watching: Dom DeTruff (Sr., G), Trevor Donsen (Sr., G), Jack Copus (Sr., G)
Top Newcomers: Lucas Simmons (Jr., G)
Schedule
12.2, Latrobe, 7:30 pm
12.5, Penn-Trafford^, 7:45 pm
12.6, Indiana^, 3 p.m.
12.9, at Fox Chapel, 7 p.m.
12.12, Mount Lebanon*, 7:30 pm
12.16, Connellsville*, 7:30 p.m.
12.19, Central Catholic*, 7:30 p.m.
12.20, Southmoreland#, 3pm
12.23, Imani Christian*, 7:30 pm
12.29, Greensburg Central Catholic+, 3:30 p.m.
12.30, Greensburg Salem+, 5 p.m.
1.6, at Canon-Macmillan*, 7:30 pm
1.9, Upper St. Clair*, 7:30 pm
1.10, Gateway, 1 pm
1.13, Norwin*, 7:30 pm
1.16, Mount Lebanon*, 7:30 pm
1.20, Connellsville*, 7:30 p.m.
1.23, Central Catholic*, 7:30 pm
1.27, Imani Christian*, 7:30 pm
1.30, Canon-Macmillan*, 7:30 pm
2.3, Upper St. Clair*, 7 pm
2.6, Norwin*, 7:30 pm
*section game
^ Hempfield Tournament
+Greensburg Salem Tournament
#WCCAShowcase
Bill Beckner Jr. is a TribLive reporter covering local sports in Westmoreland County. He can be reached at bbeckner@triblive.com.
Tag: Hempfield
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