varsity coaches

trent DUES

Head Coach Trent Dues is in his 30th year as varsity head coach at Butler, after serving two years as the JV Head Coach. Trent is a graduate of Coldwater High School and played for the 1987 State Championship Cavaliers Baseball team. After graduation, Dues went on to play baseball at Bowling Green State University, where he was a four year letterman for the Falcons.

In 1995, Coach Dues took over a Butler Baseball program that had not won a league title since 1974. Under Dues' guidance, Butler has compiled a record of 621-225. Along the way the Aviators have won 22 league championships (11 consecutive between 1996 and 2006), 20 Sectional Titles, 11 District crowns, and 1 Regional Championship. Under Dues, the Aviators have never had a losing season.

Dues' 2015 Aviators won the GWOC North with a 10-0 record, making them the first team to ever win the ultra-competitive division with an unblemished record. A feat that would be repeated a year later, making Butler 20-0 against the division during that span.

In 2012, Coach Dues was inducted into the MVBCA Hall of Fame. During the 2019 season, he eclipsed the 500 win mark. Off of the field, Trent teaches Psychology and World Studies at the high school. He is married to the former Melissa Ebbing and they have three children, Damon, Mia, and Koby

mike bardonaro

Assistant Coach Mike Bardonaro is a graduate of Chaminade-Julienne High School and Wright State University, playing baseball for both schools.

Prior to joining the varsity staff, Coach Bardonaro spent 12 successful seasons leading the junior varsity club. During his tenure as head coach, Bardonaro's teams posted a number of 20-win seasons. In 2010, Bardonaro was named as the MVBCA Assistant Coach of the Year.

Professionally, Mike teaches U.S. Studies at Butler. Mike has two daughters, Samantha and Dillan.

matt roberts

Assistant Coach Matt Roberts is a 2005 graduate of Butler High School, and former baseball player for the Aviators.

Preceding his stint on the varsity coaching staff, Coach Roberts spent several successful season as an assistant and head coach of the Butler junior varsity club.

Matt is married to the former Stacy Wintrow and they have two children.

mike schilling

Assistant Coach Mike Schilling joined the Aviators after coaching many years in Springfield, most recently as the head coach for the Wildcats varsity program.

Mike is a 1990 graduate of Shawnee High School, and went on to play collegiately at Wilmington College.

DUSTY LEWIS

JOHN MYERS

SHAWN GRIDER

Assistant Coach John Myers was a solid infielder for the Aviators, starting all four years at Butler.

A member of the 2012 graduating class, Myers went on to graduate from Wright State University.

Myers is a long baseball coach in the Butler Baseball program, leading in head coach and assistant coaching roles at the JV level.

Professionally Coach Myers is a long term substitute teacher in the Vandalia-Butler City School District.

jv-a coaches

taylor fisher

Head Coach Taylor Fisher was a three-year letterman at National Trail High School. After graduation, Fisher worked as a varsity baseball assistant at his alma mater for four years, leading the Blazers to the Division-III District Final in 1997.

Fisher then began to coach the Franklin freshman team, and later joined the Wildcats varsity club, coaching from 2008 - 2011. There, he helped produce three winning seasons, en route to back-to-back Regional Semi-Final appearances.

Fisher's love for the game of baseball still extends to playing in the Roy Hobbs League, where he is also an umpire.

B U T L E R