Kurt Godlevske spent eight seasons at Butler as the head coach of the women's basketball program. He posted an overall record of 91-144 which included a 47-97 record against BIG EAST competition. 91 wins at Butler is the fourth-most by a coach in program history.
Godlevske was recognized as the BIG EAST Coach of the Year after the completion of the 2018-19 basketball season. The Bulldogs recorded 23 wins and reached the Sweet 16 of the WNIT. 11 of those 23 victories came in conference action, allowing Butler to play in the BIG EAST tournament as the No. 3 seed.
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Three BU student-athletes have earned First Team All-BIG EAST accolades under the guidance of Godlevske. The ‘Dawgs have also had student-athletes on the All-BIG EAST Second Team and the BIG EAST All-Freshman Team.
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Godlevske won three BIG EAST Tournament games during his tenure. The Bulldogs eliminated Xavier from the post-season tournament in back-to-back years (2016-2017). The last BU tournament win came in 2018 over Providence.
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Godlevske secured three wins over nationally-ranked opponents while at Butler. The ‘Dawgs won 76-53 at #21 Villanova on Jan. 2, 2018. A second signature on his coaching resume came on Feb. 22, 2019 when the Bulldogs went to Milwaukee to defeat #11 Marquette 61-57. To end the 2020-21 regular season, Butler went to Chicago to defeat #25 DePaul 86-81. It was the first win against the Blue Demons in program history!
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In his first season at Butler, Godlevske guided the Bulldogs to a 14-16 overall record that included a 10-8 conference record in the BIG EAST. 14 total wins during the 2014-15 season was significant for the coaching staff as it set a new school record for most wins recorded by a first-year head coach in Butler women’s basketball history. Godlevske was able to motivate his inexperienced group of student-athletes that featured seven newcomers and not a single returning starter.
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The 2014-15 team joined elite company by posting a perfect 8-0 record during the month of January. The Bulldogs had not gone undefeated during a full month in the past 17 years. Victories during the winning-streak came against Providence (2x), Creighton, St. John’s, Marquette, Villanova, Georgetown, and Xavier.
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Godlevske joined Butler as an assistant coach in the spring of 2013. After one full season as an assistant, Godlevske was tagged as the interim head coach, a title that would change on May 6 when A.D. Barry Collier named Godlevske the permanent head coach of the Bulldogs.
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Prior to coaching at Butler, Godlevske spent seven years as girls’ head coach at Bedford North Lawrence High School. He guided the Lady Stars to a 120-41 record, including a perfect 28-0 mark and the IHSAA Class 4A Girls’ Basketball State Championship in 2013.
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An all-state high school student-athlete in L’Anse, Mich., Godlevske played basketball at Northern Michigan University, and started his collegiate coaching career at NCAA Division II Lake Superior State University. He returned to the sideline as head coach of his alma mater in L’Anse, leading the school to a 40-9 record in two seasons before taking over at Bedford North Lawrence.
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Godlevske earned his degree in physical education and health from Northern Michigan in 1994. He earned a master’s degree from University of Indianapolis in 2004 and a principal’s license from Oakland City in 2008.
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Kurt and his wife Beth are the proud parents of three children, Corrin, Noah and Katie.
2014-15 Season
14-16 Overall, 10-8 BIG EAST
No. 6 Seed, Lost to Villanova in the Quarterfinals of the BIG EAST Tournament
2015-16 Season
10-21 Overall, 4-14 BIG EAST
No. 9 Seed, Won vs. No. 8 seed Xavier in the First Round of the BIG EAST Tournament
Ended the year with a loss at No. 1 seed DePaul in the QuarterfinalsÂ
2016-17 Season
6-25 Overall, 2-16 BIG EAST
No. 10 Seed, Won vs. No. 7 seed Xavier in the First Round of the BIG EAST Tournament
Ended the year with a loss vs. No. 2 seed Creighton in the Quarterfinals
2017-18 Season
15-17 Overall, 6-12 BIG EAST
No. 8 Seed, Won 73-67 in OT vs. No. 9 seed Providence in the First Round of the BIG EAST Tournament
Ended the year with a loss vs. No. 1 seed Marquette in the Quarterfinals
2018-19 Season
23-10 Overall, 11-7 BIG EAST
No. 3 Seed, Lost 60-51 vs. No. 6 Seed Creighton in the Quarterfinals of the BIG EAST Tournament.
Won 89-72 vs. Northeastern in WNIT First Round
Won 70-52 vs. Kent State in WNIT Second Round
Lost 72-65 at Cincinnati in WNIT Sweet 16
2019-20 Season
19-11 Overall, 11-7 BIG EAST
No. 5 Seed, Lost 83-57 vs. No. 4 Seed Seton Hall in the Quarterfinals of the BIG EAST Tournament.
No post-season play due to COVID-19
2020-21 Season
3-17 Overall, 3-15 BIG EAST
No. 10 Seed, Lost 63-61 vs. No. 7 Seed Providence in the First Round of the BIG EAST Tournament.
2021-22 Season
1-27 Overall, 0-18 BIG EAST
No. 11 Seed, Lost 58-39 vs. No. 6 seed Seton Hall in the First Round of the BIG EAST Tournament.
At Butler (8 Seasons)
91-144 Overall
47-97 BIG EAST
