INDIANAPOLIS - Butler has selected assistant coach Todd Lickliter to become its third head coach in as many years, the school announced Saturday.

        Lickliter, 46, replaces his former boss, Thad Matta, who was named Xavier coach Thursday after leading the Bulldogs to a 24-8 record and their first NCAA tournament victory since 1962.

        “We had a great year, but I guarantee our players aren't satisfied,” Lickliter said. “They're hungry for more, and so am I.”

        The Indianapolis native and former Butler player has never headed a college program. He was an assistant under former Butler coach Barry Collier and an assistant for two years at Eastern Michigan, which won the Mid-American Conference title in 1998 while he was there. He also was head coach at both Park Tudor and Danville high schools in the Indianapolis area.

        Athletic director John Parry said he had been inclined to hire someone with head coaching experience, but Butler players had persuaded him to consider Lickliter.

        Former Butler assistant and current Arizona assistant Jay John had also been among the candidates to replace Matta. A letter representing 21 Butler basketball alumni had been sent to Parry in support of John, according to The Indianapolis Star.

        Butler players cited a family atmosphere within the program as one reason they wanted their next coach to come from inside. The Bulldogs have qualified for the NCAA tournament in four of the past five years, and Lickliter was on the staff for three of the NCAA trips.

        “He knows the system, and we've got a good system in place,” junior center Scott Robisch said.

        Lickliter said he wants to build on that foundation.

        “I don't want to just maintain what we have,” he said. “I want us to continue to progress and evolve. ...

        “We're not going to be complacent. Our goal is to continue to develop and build on what has been established here.”

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Five Questions with: Thad Matta Butler promotes Lickliter to head coach

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