Gordon Hayward is the latest N.B.A standout at his alma mater in a sort of front office role, at Butler announce that it hired the former star forward as an executive basketball consultant.
“There were many people during my time at Butler who were instrumental in my development, both on and off the field, and I am excited to give back to the program by helping today’s Bulldogs in a similar way,” Hayward said in a statement. “I look forward to building relationships with the staff and our current and future Bulldogs to make a positive impact on the program I care deeply about.”
Hayward was the face of one of the most memorable March madness runs as a sophomore for the Bulldogs in 2010. The Horizon League Player of the Year led the Bulldogs all the way to the national championship game against Duke, where his half-court buzzer beater attempt came painfully close.
After that season ended, he turned pro and the Utah Jazz drafted him ninth overall. After a strong rise at Utah – he made the All Star Game in 2016-17, his final year there – he joined the Boston Celtics via free agency. His career took a shocking turn when he became a dislocated ankle and broken tibia in the opening minutes of his Celtics tenure. He returned the following season and played a total of three seasons for Boston before moving to the Charlotte Hornets. He had a brief stint with the Thunder in 2023-2024 and retired in August 2024.
In his new role with the Bulldogs, Hayward. a 2022 Butler Athletics Hall of Fame inductee, will “lean on his N.B.A experience advising on talent evaluation and recruitment, player development and team culture” and “serving a mentor role for student-athletes within the program, with an emphasis on leadership and professional development.”
Hayward joins a growing list of players filling similar roles. Recently, Jayson Tatum joined Duke as the Blue Devils player head basketball officer, and Stephen Curry (Davidson assistant general manager) and Trae Young (Oklahoma assistant general manager) are among those who joined their former school.
Unlike those three, Hayward is retired, so he might have more time to help Thad Matta and company Butler. He made 10 of 12 NCAA tournament appearances from 2007 to 2018, including two national title appearances, but has not made the tournament since.
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