Gordon Hayward Named Butler Men's CBB Executive Basketball Advisor

Butler announced Tuesday that former NBA star Gordon Hayward was brought aboard as an executive basketball advisor for the men's program.

"We are thrilled to formally engage Gordon with Butler Basketball in this new role," athletic director Grant Leiendecker said. "Gordon's 14-year NBA career speaks for itself — he's competed against the best players in the world at the highest level of the game, learned from some of the best minds in basketball, and experienced what it takes to succeed as a professional.

"That wealth of knowledge, combined with his deep connection to Butler, makes him uniquely positioned to have an immediate and meaningful impact on our program. His leadership, insight, and passion for this place will be invaluable as we continue to build the future of Butler Basketball. This program owes Gordon a lot, and it's really meaningful that he is giving back to Butler Basketball once again, sharing his time and talents.

Hayward spent two years with the Bulldogs. In 69 appearances, he averaged 14.4 points and 7.4 rebounds. As a sophomore, he also played a starring role in the first of two straight runner-up finishes in the NCAA tournament.

The 6'7" forward was mere inches away from what would've been one of the greatest shots in tourney history. His halfcourt heave at the end of the 2010 title game against Duke hit the backboard and went off the left rim.

Hayward's Butler tenure propelled him to being the No. 9 overall pick in the 2010 NBA draft, and he enjoyed a productive 14-year run in the pros that included an All-Star nod in 2016-17.

"There were a lot of people who were instrumental in my development on and off the court during my time at Butler, and I'm excited to give back to the program by helping today's Bulldogs in a similar way," he said of returning to his alma mater. "I look forward to building relationships with the staff and our current and future Bulldogs in order to positively impact the program that I care deeply about."

His hiring comes as schools continue seeking whatever edge they can gain in the hypercompetitive world of high-level college sports. Campus legends such as Hayward can serve as success stories to help sell the program.

Stanford named four-time Pro Bowl quarterback Andrew Luck as the general manager for Cardinal football in November 2024. Duke appointed six-time NBA All-Star as its chief basketball officer for the men's team last week. Two-time MVP Stephen Curry is an assistant general manager at Davidson on the side.

Hayward will undoubtedly be a great salesman for Butler basketball as the Bulldogs try to carve a path back to the NCAA tournament under head coach Thad Matta.