After 34 years, Butler's man behind-the-scenes calls it a career

Butler University has received more than 200 applications from folks hoping to succeed retiring sports information director Jim McGrath – a good thing, athletic director Barry Collier said.

"I think we're going to have to hire all of them to do everything he did," Collier said, laughing.

Maybe a slight exaggeration, but not much.

McGrath, 65, will retire in June after 34 years at the school. He was Butler's first full-time sports information director. He has been the one constant at Hinkle Fieldhouse as the men's basketball program went from afterthought on the Indianapolis sports scene to a national darling.

Soon, he'll be leaving – with plans to play more golf, travel more with wife Judy and spend more time with his six grandchildren. Butler officials honored him and his family March 3 during the final home game against Georgetown. The sellout crowd responded with a standing ovation. Television networks have noted his retirement during national broadcasts.

"It's been a little overwhelming," McGrath said of the tributes. "I kind of jokingly say it's like a funeral march. Everyone is being so nice and so special. But the recognition, I would just kind of prefer to step in the background a little bit."

That's because McGrath is something of a rare bird. Many say they don't like the limelight, but revel in it when it's shined upon them. Not McGrath. He truly hates it.

"These last few months have been a little hard on him," said Judy McGrath, a physical therapist for Lawrence Township Schools and Jim's wife for 43 years. "He's flattered with all the attention he's gotten, but he would much rather be on the other end."

McGrath grew up in the northern Chicago suburbs and played basketball at Augustana College in Rock Island, Ill. His playing career ended after two years at Augustana, but the coach asked him to travel with the team and keep statistics. The school's public relations chief then asked him to write news releases for local newspapers.

After graduation, Augustana hired McGrath as its first sports information director, a job he held for 10 years. He loved it, but the money wasn't great on the Division III level, especially considering he also was the school's director of sports facilities and had two young sons at home. He sent his resume to 50 Division I schools.

No thanks, wrote the 48 schools that responded. He never heard from the other two. Butler was one of those that said no, but athletic director and football coach Bill Sylvester contacted him a few weeks later to tell him the school had decided to hire its first sports information director and ask whether McGrath was interested.

He and Judy drove from Rock Island for the interview. The night before, McGrath persuaded a security guard to let him into Hinkle Fieldhouse.

"I was literally like the kid in 'Hoosiers,' just kind of standing around and looking in awe," he said. "I couldn't believe they had this kind of facility at Butler University.

"I remember walking out of there saying to my wife, 'This is a pretty special place,' " he said.

McGrath got the job. Truth be told, Butler wasn't exactly special in athletics at the time. McGrath remembers the football team being shut out the first two games he worked. The basketball team lost nine of its first 10 games that season.

"It was difficult at first," he said. "But the people here were so special. You just knew it was going to turn around."

McGrath added the title of associate athletic director in 1989 and he's had it ever since. He hired an assistant one year later, but the workload continued to increase. He considered applying for an opening with the Chicago White Sox, a team he's rooted for since birth, but decided not to after Judy told him how much she loved Indianapolis.

Otherwise, he's never considered leaving. Eighty-hour weeks were common during the school year, but Judy helped by typing up results and stories on a typewriter in the days before computers. Their three sons – another was born after the family's arrival in Indianapolis – were often found running around Hinkle Fieldhouse. They thought dad had a pretty cool job, even if he was gone more than most fathers.

"We didn't know anybody when we moved here," said Judy, who has known her husband since first grade. "We had no relatives here. Really, Butler became our family."

Things did get better, especially in hoops, but it took some time. The Bulldogs made the NIT in 1985. They upset Indiana in 1993, a feat that seemed impossible in the early '90s. They made their first NCAA tournament appearance in 35 years in 1997. They won a tournament game in 2000 and advanced to the round of 16 in 2003.

About that time, McGrath was developing a friendship with a young assistant named Brad Stevens, who eventually succeeded Todd Lickliter as coach in 2007. McGrath and Stevens were often understated publicly. But privately, they kept each other laughing.

"I enjoy being around him as much as anyone I've ever met," said Stevens, who led the Bulldogs to two Final Fours and now is the coach of the Boston Celtics.

"He not only made my job a lot easier, but a lot more enjoyable. He's got a great wit about him, a fun sense of humor. We had a relationship where we were just quirky enough that we really enjoyed each other."

McGrath said he hit it off with Stevens, who started as an administrative assistant with the program in 2000.

"I had to deal with him on a lot of basketball-related issues and he was just very easy to work with," McGrath said. "Such a great demeanor, well organized and had the right priorities. I don't think I ever entered his office that I didn't leave laughing or at least with a smile on my face."

At the suggestion of Stevens and his wife, Tracy, Butler officials renamed the press box at Butler Bowl after Jim and Judy.

"He's meant a lot to our success at Butler and to me personally," Stevens said.

McGrath's final season with the basketball program had some challenges. Chris Holtmann was named the team's interim coach just before the start of preseason practice when Brandon Miller took a medical leave of absence. Holtmann got the job on a permanent basis in January. Holtmann said he relied on McGrath's counsel throughout the season as Butler went on to earn a surprise NCAA tournament bid.

"He was a great resource for me in navigating through a demanding year in terms of the media attention that our program went through," Holtmann said. "To have him as a resource through all of that was invaluable. He's really going to be missed."

In some ways, McGrath has spoiled Butler officials. The school has a smaller sports information staff than the University of Indianapolis, a Division II school. McGrath and assistant Kit Stetzel are the only full-time employees. Most Big East sports information departments have five or six employees and the men's basketball contact might be in charge of one other sport.

McGrath is not only in charge of basketball, but also handles media relations for football, softball, men's soccer, men's and women's golf and men's and women's cross-country and track. He took a break from putting together the program for the softball team's senior day for an interview one day last week.

"Maybe coming from the Division III background, where you have to be a one-man shop and do it all, helped a little bit," said McGrath, adding that he's had a line of good assistants as well. "I was used to that and I think it helped in coping with things here.

"An important part of our success is finding people that know the reality of our situation and are willing to accept it and put forth the dedication and time to get things done. We've been lucky to find those people. Same with the players. Brad Stevens commented one time that Hinkle Fieldhouse might not be for every player. But we want to find players that it is special to."

He said he has recommended to Collier that the sports information office be expanded. The demands are greater than ever due to social media. But he said Butler is trying to catch up to other Big East schools in a number of areas, including the addition of more coaches in some programs, so he understands it may not be a priority.

The tributes during the past few months, while causing some embarrassment, have been a reminder that he landed at the perfect place when he accepted Sylvester's offer. All three of his sons played baseball at Lawrence North and two now serve on the basketball stat crew at Butler. Photographs of the grandchildren decked out in Butler paraphernalia are spread throughout his office.

"It's all been worthwhile," he said. "I've never had a regret. I think back to that first night when I walked into this building and how fortunate I was to be able to do that."

Follow Star reporter Michael Pointer on Twitter: @michaelpointer.

Jim McGrath

Personal: Graduate of Lake Zurich (Ill.) High School, where he played football, basketball and baseball prior to graduating in 1967. Later played basketball at Augustana College before graduating in 1971. Worked as sports information director at Augustana for 10 years before arriving at Butler in 1981. . . Was inducted into the College Sports Information Directors of America's Hall of Fame in 2013. Is also a member of the Butler University Athletics Hall of Fame. . .Has served as the host sports information director for five men's Final Fours and one women's Final Fours. . .Wife Judy is a physical therapist for Lawrence Township Schools and all three of his sons graduated from Lawrence North. Scott McGrath compiled an 8-1 record as a pitcher on the Lawrence North baseball team in 1999 and helped the Wildcats to the 1999 Class 4A state title game. . . . Sons Scott and Chris are part of the Butler stats crew. McGrath's oldest son, Chad, works for the U.S. Army in a civilian's position in Germany. He is scheduled to return to the United States in July.