The Coach Who Trains Champions and Leaders

Before Brian Butler became one of Wichita’s most respected athletic trainers and mentors, he was a gifted but troubled athlete trying to find his way. 

He excelled in both football and basketball at Wichita Northwest High School, where he graduated in 1993 as part of one of the school’s winningest teams.

But the discipline that fueled success on the field didn’t always carry over into life off it. “I was talented,” Butler said, “but I didn’t have the structure or mentors to help me make quality decisions.”

He admits he was chasing dreams without direction. “If I would’ve made it to the NFL back then, I probably would’ve ended up dead,” he said. “I didn’t have the discipline or decision-making it takes to survive at that level.”

That honesty and self-awareness became the foundation for the next three decades of his life. Butler set out to become the mentor he once needed: someone who could help young athletes channel raw potential into real leadership.

For nearly 30 years, he’s been shaping more than athletes — he’s been shaping lives. His training ground isn’t a fancy facility but any field, park, or open space where young people show up ready to work. What he builds isn’t just speed or strength — it’s discipline, faith, and purpose.

A Big Brother with a Bigger Purpose

Butler began coaching football in 1996 at Wichita Northwest High School, where his two younger brothers, Rashad and Sherman, were both players. He was only 21 years old — the youngest coach in the district at the time — and wanted to make sure his brothers had the support and discipline he’d once lacked.

“I was just being a mean big brother,” he laughed. “I was trying to push them to work harder.”

What started as a way to help his brothers succeed quickly caught the attention of other players. Butler told them to meet on the weekends at a field, and more and more kept showing up. Both of his brothers went on to play college ball — one even becoming a high-school All-American — and word spread about the intense, no-nonsense training sessions that produced results.

By the early 2000s, Butler had coached at several Wichita-area schools — four years at Northwest, a year at Clearwater, and another at South High — but his passion was what happened outside official practices. From 1996 through 2005, he trained local athletes for free.

“It was pretty controversial because people didn’t believe I was doing it to help people.”

What others couldn’t see was that Butler’s training wasn’t just physical, it was spiritual.

“They didn’t pay me a dime,” he said. “But they had to show up for the Word first. I wanted them to build their foundation on something bigger than the game.”

Each session started with scripture or Bible study, then moved into drills and conditioning. “That was the price of admission,” he said. “Faith came first.”

Those early years laid the foundation for everything that followed. The lessons he taught on Wichita’s open fields — faith, focus, and accountability — would become the same principles that shaped the next phase of his life and career.

From Volunteer to Visionary

In 2006, Butler turned his years of volunteer work into a business, launching Brian Butler Performance. The decision didn’t change his mission — it expanded his reach. His program still centered on the same goal: to build better people, not just better players.

His program trains athletes across all sports, focusing on speed, explosiveness, agility, and core strength.

“Your body is run by your core,” Butler said. “That’s what makes you function better.”

Each athlete’s training is individualized, shaped by their personal goals and needs. “It’s about learning how to function and be comfortable in your own body,” he said. “It’s kind of like gumbo — it all kind of works together.”

Butler’s approach drew athletes from across the city — football players, basketball players, track athletes, and more — each learning that success on the field starts with discipline off it.

Results That Speak for Themselves

Nearly 30 years after those early workouts on Wichita fields, Butler’s reputation has grown far beyond local boundaries. What began with a handful of neighborhood kids has evolved into a steady roster of about 30 athletes who train with him year-round, including some of the top prospects in the region.

Those numbers have climbed sharply in recent years, fueled by the high-profile success of Avery Johnson, the Kansas State University quarterback Butler began training when Avery was in the second grade. Johnson’s rise to college stardom has drawn new attention to Butler’s program and to the results it consistently delivers.

Over the years, Butler has helped dozens of athletes earn college athletic scholarships, guiding them through the same process his own brothers once faced. Many have continued on to successful collegiate careers, and a few reached football’s highest level. His trainees who advanced to the NFL include Bryce Brown, Arthur Brown Jr., Cameron Wimbley, Tyson Hartman, Cody Whitehair, Blake Bell, and Emmanuel Lamur.

Each name, Butler says, tells a story of perseverance and purpose. “The game rewards discipline,” he said. “All those guys had the work ethic and character to match their ability.”

Now, a new generation is following in their footsteps. Among Butler’s current group is eighth-grader Braylon “Bub” Scott, who recently received a full-ride offer from Delaware State University — a remarkable milestone for someone his age.

“What stands out most about Bub is that he keeps showing up,” Butler said. “With the schedule he has — school, travel, training — that takes real commitment. That consistency is special.”

Building Leaders Who Last

For Butler, producing college stars and NFL players is rewarding, but it’s not the ultimate goal. His greatest satisfaction comes from seeing athletes grow into disciplined, accountable young adults who earn respect beyond the field.

Butler’s goal is to develop leaders. Turning young athletes into leaders is something he’s especially proud of. “There’s no better way to show you’re a leader than being selected captain of your team,” he said.

Since 2010, 11 of Butler’s trainees have been chosen as captains at Kansas State University, an accomplishment he says reflects not just athletic skill but character.

“When people choose you to lead them, that means they trust your integrity,” Butler said. “That tells me we’re doing something right.”

Discipline On & Off the Field

For Butler, discipline isn’t just a training principle — it’s a way of life. He teaches his athletes to carry the same accountability they show in workouts into the classroom and their homes.

He tells them to sit in the front of the class, communicate with teachers, show up on time, and stand tall — not just as athletes but as examples of what hard work and respect look like.

“Kids love discipline,” he said with a grin. “They act like they don’t, but they do.”

That’s why his message to parents is direct: be present, be consistent, and don’t make excuses. 

“Nowadays, I’ve seen some of the worst parenting in my 50 years,” he said. “People say they believe in their kids but don’t want to invest in them. Parents, don’t take shortcuts — and don’t allow your kids to either. Hold them accountable. Discipline matters.”

He believes structure and consistent expectations can change a young person’s future. 

“I’ve seen kids who would’ve been in jail go a different direction because of mentorship and discipline,” Butler said. “God used me to give them something, and they used it.”

Faith & Family First

While football and fitness have shaped Butler’s career, faith is what anchors his life. Married for more than 20 years, with four daughters and one son, he leads at home the same way he leads on the field — through consistency, accountability, and service.

“As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord,” he said. “I’m not perfect, but I know I’m here for a purpose bigger than sports.”

That foundation, he believes, is what gives meaning to everything else. His faith keeps him grounded when the demands of training and mentoring grow heavy, and his family reminds him why the work matters. For Butler, it all comes down to this: Faith shapes the work, discipline delivers the results, and every life redirected is a win.