WORCESTER, Mass. – Senior guard Austin Butler, a member of the Holy Cross men's basketball team, has been selected as the 2020-21 winner of the Honorable John P. Cooney Memorial Award. Presented by the Holy Cross Varsity Club in memory of Judge John P. Cooney (Class of 1923), the Cooney Award goes to a senior letterwinner who performed beyond all expectations with courage, loyalty and dedication.

Over the last four years, Butler showed incredible resolve while dealing with numerous injuries and obstacles. He improved on the court each year of his career, while battling through two shoulder surgeries following his sophomore and junior seasons. Butler also suffered a broken hand during his junior year, and returned to court after missing just two games while playing out of position at point guard.

As a senior, Butler averaged 16.1 points, 8.8 rebounds and 1.6 steals per game, while hitting 49.5 percent (98 of 198) of his field goal attempts and 45.8 percent (27 of 59) of his three-pointers. He finished the season ranked second in the Patriot League in rebounding, third in three-point field goal percentage, sixth in steals, seventh in scoring and ninth in three-point field goals made. Butler led the team in rebounding 11 times and scoring seven times this year, in addition to scoring in double-figures in 14 of 16 games played. 

Over the course of his four years with the Crusaders, he totaled 1,321 points, 571 rebounds, 188 assists and 126 steals, while connecting on 37.4 percent (158 of 422) of his three-point field goals. Butler finished his career ranked fifth all-time at Holy Cross in three-point field goals made, fifth in games started (100) and seventh in three-point field goals attempted.

Complete List of Cooney Award Winners