Butler University Athletics

Grant Leiendecker '11, a member of the Bulldogs' 2010 and 2011 men's basketball teams that reached the national championship game, assumed his Vice President/Director of Athletics responsibilities in May of 2024. 

He initially returned to Butler University as Associate Vice President—Athletics in August of 2023. After a national search to replace the retiring Barry Collier, Butler President James M. Danko announced in late January, 2024 that Leiendecker would serve his alma mater as the next director of athletics. He worked alongside Collier over the next few months before officially assuming Director of Athletics responsibilities with Collier's retirement. 

President Danko enlisted the assistance of a diverse group of trustees, faculty, staff, alumni, former student-athletes and donors, who advised him throughout a comprehensive national search, aided by an experienced search consultant in Collegiate Sports Associates.  

"Since returning to Butler last year, Grant has developed incredibly positive relationships with our student-athletes, coaches, staff, supporters and members of the University administration," Danko said. "I had the pleasure of speaking with many exceptional candidates throughout this process, but ultimately, Grant—with his vision, passion, and commitment to our mission and values—stood out above the others. He has a bold vision for Butler Athletics as intercollegiate athletics faces unprecedented transformation. On behalf of the Butler Community, I want to congratulate Grant, his wife Kylee, and their children Luke, Louise, Lucy, Lettie, and Lawson. Butler Athletics is in good hands!" 

In his current roles as Associate VP-Athletics, Leiendecker serves as a senior leader in the athletics department with responsibility for leading the comprehensive advancement program for athletics. Additionally, he plays a pivotal role in elevating the focus on delivering exceptional fan experiences while leveraging his experience at other top programs to foster an environment that supports optimal performance for our student-athletes and teams.

Leiendecker returned to Butler after spending the previous four years as Assistant Vice President, Senior Associate Athletic Director for Development at Marquette University. In addition to leading the athletics development team at Marquette, Leiendecker served as a member of the athletics and university advancement leadership teams. Under his leadership, Marquette Athletics achieved consistent annual growth in total fundraising and donor participation over the previous four years, culminating with a total of more than $15.7 million in commitments in the most recent fiscal year. Leiendecker previously served as Director of Major Gifts for The Rams Club at University of North Carolina—Chapel Hill. As a member of the UNC athletics fundraising team, he played an integral role in achieving record-setting fundraising years of more than $60 million for three consecutive years.

Leiendecker was a scholarship member of the Butler men's basketball program. He was inducted into the Butler Athletics Hall of Fame in 2021 along with his teammates on the 2010 and 2011 teams that made appearances in the national championship game.

He graduated from Butler in 2011 with a degree in finance. After graduation, he served as a postgraduate intern at the NCAA in Indianapolis before moving to Chapel Hill to attend graduate school. Leiendecker earned a master's degree in sport administration from UNC in 2014.

Grant and his wife, Kylee, have five children—Luke, Louise, Lucy, Lettie, and Lawson.