Volleyball Coach Vetoed

The ethics committee of the organization that governs amateur volleyball has ruled that the sport’s most successful coach should not lead the U.S. Olympic Volleyball Team.

Rick Butler, 40, was recommended for expulsion amid allegations he had sex with some players 13 years ago when they were minors.

Butler owns and is coach of Sports Performance club of West Chicago.

The decision by the ethics and eligibility committee prohibits Butler from coaching any USA Volleyball events until December. A meeting then of the group’s executive committee will decide whether to act on the ethics committee’s recommendation.

“I think it’s a witch-hunt,” Butler said. “The hearing was a setup all the way along.”

He has not been charged with any crime and denies any wrongdoing.

The allegations against Butler come from three of his former players, who told the ethics and eligibility committee at a July 21 meeting that Butler had sex with them when they were minors. One of his accusers, Julie Bremner, said she was angry that USA Volleyball sent her a letter last week asking that she and other players not make public comments on the decision.

Bremner, a UCLA medical student, said the organization’s letter “is a blatant and shameless manipulation to force those of us who are Butler’s victims to cooperate in a conspiracy of silence.”