Kevin Lynch was hired to lead the Butler Football program Dec. 12, 2024. The 2025 season will be his first with the Bulldogs.
Lynch arrives at Butler after serving on the Ball State coaching staff since 2016. He served as Ball State’s offensive play caller, was the Assistant Head Coach and Quarterbacks Coach during the 2024 season. He also served as the team’s Offensive Coordinator. His earlier roles at Ball State included the positions of Running Backs Coach and Recruiting Coordinator.
"Kevin has a great appreciation for our university and The Butler Way,” said Vice President/Director of Athletics Grant Leiendecker. “He stood out among a very talented and deep applicant pool. Kevin clearly articulated his passion and ability to build relationships, identify and develop talent, and continue to build a culture of excellence within our program. We are thrilled to welcome Kevin, Katelyn and the Lynch Family, and are excited for the future of our program.”
“My family and I are both grateful and excited for the opportunity to lead the Butler Football program,” said Lynch. “Butler is a special place, and I’ve seen that first-hand through the impact it has had on my family over the years. Young men in our program will have the ability to compete for championships in the Pioneer Football League while receiving a tremendous education. We are going to embrace The Butler Way and I’m excited to get to work.”
Lynch is the 26th head coach in program history and just the tenth since 1935 when Tony Hinkle first led the Bulldogs. The program started in 1887.
Under Lynch’s guidance, Kadin Semonza earned 2024 MAC Freshman of the Year honors after leading the conference in both passing yards and passing touchdowns. Lynch also played a crucial role in helping develop former BSU quarterback Drew Plitt, who concluded his career by ranking second in Ball State history in completions, third in passing yards and third in passing touchdowns.
Offensive playmakers Justin Hall and Carson Steele achieved remarkable success in Lynch’s offense. Hall set Ball State program records for career all-purpose yards (5,359) and career receiving yards (3,385) while tying the NCAA record for consecutive games with a reception (54). Steele produced over 1,000 all-purpose yards at Ball State in 2021 before continuing his collegiate career at UCLA. Steele went undrafted in 2024, but signed a contract with the Kansas City Chiefs as a free agent after a standout prep career that began at Center Grove High School.
In his inaugural season as offensive coordinator, Lynch played a key role in Ball State's successful 2020 season, winning the MAC Championship along with the program’s first bowl victory (Arizona Bowl). During the campaign, Ball State had a notable presence in the AP and Coaches Polls.
Prior to Ball State, Lynch coached at the University of Indianapolis, where he served as an assistant coach from 2010-16. Being part of the most successful eras in UIndy history, Lynch helped the Greyhounds to 39 wins, four conference championships and three NCAA Division II playoff appearances in a four-year span. He mentored numerous UIndy receivers to all-conference accolades, including two-time GLVC Player of the Year and 2015 All-American Reece Horn.
His first coaching job was an assistant role at Indiana University. Lynch was the offensive quality control coach for the Hoosiers from 2009-10, assisting the offensive coordinator and helping with special teams.
Kevin Lynch is the son of former Butler football head coach Bill Lynch, who led the Bulldogs from 1985-89. Bill won 36 games over a five-year coaching stint and was a three-time All-American at quarterback for Butler from 1974-76. Bill later served as the head coach at Indiana, Ball State and DePauw.
Lynch earned a bachelor's degree from Franklin College, where he was a standout all-conference wide receiver. He and his wife, Katelyn, have four sons; Will, Beau, Jack and Lukas, and a daughter, Lucy.
