Thomas Arden Butters (April 8, 1938 – March 31, 2016) was an American professional baseball player who became best known as a longtime college sports administrator at Duke University and a key figure in the success of the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament.Butters was the athletic director at Duke from 1977–97. Three years into that tenure, he hired Mike Krzyzewski as the Blue Devils' men's basketball coach; in 2011, Krzyzewski became the winningest coach in Men's Division I history. During his two decades as head of Duke intercollegiate athletics, Butters supervised programs that won 40 Atlantic Coast Conference team titles.Butters was a native of Delaware, Ohio, who attended Ohio Wesleyan University in his native city. In baseball, he was a 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m), 195 lb (88 kg) right-handed pitcher. He signed with the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1957 after being scouted by legendary retired Pirates' general manager Branch Rickey, also an Ohio Wesleyan alumnus. But Butters required almost six full years of minor league seasoning before his recall to the Pirates in September 1962.
Butters then spent parts of the next three seasons in Major League Baseball, including most of 1964. Working in 28 games pitched for the 1964 Pirates, including four starts, Butters split four decisions and posted a sparkling 2.38 earned run average.
But en route to spring training with his young family in 1965, Butters suffered a severe whiplash injury in an automobile accident. He spent most of 1965 on the disabled list and cut short an attempted comeback in 1966 when the effects of his injury proved insurmountable. In 43 career MLB games pitched, Butters compiled a 2–3 record, allowing 81 hits and 56 bases on balls in 952⁄3 innings pitched. He fanned 85.A United States Army veteran, Butters had also spent baseball off-seasons working in admissions for his alma mater. In 1967, he joined Duke University as director of special events, then served three years (1968–70) as head baseball coach before moving into administration. In addition to serving as athletic director, Butters was director of the "Iron Dukes" (the fundraising organization for the school's athletics), associate athletic director, assistant to the chancellor, and vice president of the university. During his 1989–94 tenure on the NCAA Basketball Committee, including two years as chairman, he was part of the negotiating team that brokered a $1 billion contract with CBS Sports to televise the annual March tournament.Butters was elected to the North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame and the sports halls of fame of both Ohio Wesleyan and Duke universities.
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Some of their strengths
Tom Butters has many admirable traits.
Based on spiritual traditions from around the world, they are someone who can be described as Energetic, Brave, Honest, Intuitive, Passionate, Adventurous, and Generous.
Independent and Brave
According to Mysticism’s Astrology tradition, Tom Butters is someone who is an independent, brave, and honest person who approaches life with energy, intuition, passion, and generosity. A person who looks for jobs that tend to reflect their identity.
Active and Precise
Based on Daoism’s Ba-Zi or ‘Chinese Zodiac’ tradition, people who know Tom Butters well know them as someone who can be tough, active, and sharp, like a sword.
Altruistic and Innovative
According to Hinduism’s Jyotisha or ‘Vedic Astrology’ tradition, many would also describe Tom Butters as someone who is altruistic, inventive, energetic, and socially-conscious.
Who is inventive, open-minded and inquisitive, optimistic and cooperative, and who loves working together with others.
Intelligent and Leadership-oriented
Based on the Mayan Tzolk’in or ‘Mayan Astrology’ tradition, Tom Butters is someone who is able to see things that others don't, and who can be an effective guide or mentor to others.
They are also someone who is curious, dynamic, and positive, and who enjoys inspiring and communicating with other people.
Independent and Dynamic
According to Judaism’s Kabbalah tradition, Tom Butters tends to be someone who is independent, dynamic, and courageous. Who can be positive, energetic, self-reliant, and adventurous, and who can make friends easily.
Some of Tom Butters's challenges
While Tom Butters has many strengths, nobody is perfect. They also have some challenging traits they need to manage.
For example, Tom Butters can be Emotional, Short-tempered, Impulsive, Standoffish, Indecisive, Unrealistic, and Anxious.
Short-tempered and Impulsive
One of Tom Butters's key challenges is that they are someone who can come across as short-tempered and impulsive.
Tom Butters must also exercise caution as they can have difficulty dealing with responsibility, authority, or criticism.
Anxious and Inflexible
Tom Butters is someone who can be high-strung, impatient, and inflexible, who can be "penny wise and pound foolish", have poor listening skills, and who can be intolerant of people who share a different world view.
Aggressive and Domineering
Finally, Tom Butters also can be aggressive, impatient, impulsive, and short-tempered.
