FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
APRIL 18, 1996

MILLER PLACE, NEW YORK'S STEVE BUTLER NAMED HEAD COACH OF 
U.S. BADMINTON FOR NEXT QUADRENNIUM
                                    
(COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo.) -- After an extensive three month
search conducted by the United States Badminton Association's
(USBA) National Coach Search Committee, Miller Place, New York's
Steve Butler has been named head coach of the U.S. Badminton Team
for the 1997-2000 quadrennium, effective August 15, 1996.  Butler
will replace Goran Sterner (Gothenburg, Sweden), who has served
as head coach since July, 1994.
     "Becoming the National Coach of a country like the U.S. has
always been a dream of mine," said a jubilant Butler.  "I am very
pleased, and very proud."
     Butler, 32, was born and raised in Coventry, England, where
he began his playing career on the English Junior Circuit at the
young age of 13.  Following an excellent junior career, Butler
moved into the senior ranks, where he won a total of four World
Grand Prix and eight international titles.  His world ranking
climbed to 13th in the world in 1991, and was subsequently named
to the British Olympic Team in 1992.
     Following his retirement from competitive play, Butler
traveled to the U.S. in June 1994 and became head coach of the
Miller Place Badminton Club.  There he played a major role in
building one of the most respected Junior Development Programs in
the country.  At this year's Yonex U.S. Junior National Badminton
Championships (April 4-7), Miller Place athletes accounted for a
total of 21 medals (One Gold, 11 Silver, and 9 Bronze).  Prior to
his appointment at Miller Place, Butler assisted coach Lee Jai
Bok with the English National Team, and coached such notables as
1995 English National Champion Julie Mann, and fifth world ranked
English women's doubles player Julie Bradbury.
     "We are very excited to have someone with Steve Butler's
credentials involved in our program," said USBA Executive
Director Dr. Cliff McPeak.
     "The development of a sophisticated National Team Center is
a very complex task, one for which I feel Steve Butler is
particularly well qualified."
     As head coach of U.S. Badminton, Butler's responsibilities
will include the leadership of the National Team Center,
currently located in Colorado Springs, as well as the oversight
of the nationwide badminton feeder program (Target 2004) which
identifies elite and junior badminton athletes.

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(FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT PAUL PAWLACZYK, USBA
COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR, AT 719-578-4808)