[1][2] Butler has been accused of having had sexual relationships with female players in his club in the 1980s that began when he was a coach in his mid-20s.
[4] Rick Butler, was the head coach of the Chicago Breeze in Major League Volleyball.
[3] The three accusers publicly came forward and detailed how Butler allegedly engaged in inappropriate sexual relationships with them when they were under the age of 18 and he was their coach.
[1] An investigation by the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services found "credible evidence" that there was a “risk of harm” to players in the program in the mid-1990s, so it kept Butler's name on file for five years but did not refer the matter to authorities or place any restrictions on his ability to coach or supervise athletes.
[7] Butler was never interviewed or questioned by police, he has never faced any criminal charges, and he has stated that the allegations against him are part of "an orchestrated campaign" to damage his business and reputation.
[13] Mullen claimed that, had she and other parents known about the prior accusations made against Butler, they would have never sent their children to play in any GLV programs.
[1] In a public statement, Butler said that USA Volleyball's 2016 action was “simply an act of retaliation for his role in growing USAV’s greatest competitor, the JVA/AAU partnership.
[20] USA Volleyball held the hearing without Butler's participation and issued a second lifetime ban in January 2018.