NABC Release >>>
The National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) has announced that Big West Commissioner Dan Butterly is the 2026 recipient of the NABC Cliff Wells Appreciation Award, recognizing his significant impact and contributions to the game of basketball.
The Cliff Wells Appreciation Award honors coaches, administrators and contributors whose work has supported and strengthened the sport. Previous recipients include Naismith Basketball Hall of Famers Dick Vitale, George Raveling and Jerry Krause, along with NABC Hall of Famers Abe Lemons, C.M. Newton, Vic Bubas. Ray Meyer, Ralph Miller and Bob Knight are members of both halls of fame in addition to receiving this prestigious honor.
Butterly’s career in college basketball spans more than three decades and began as a head basketball manager at Illinois State University. He later served in senior leadership roles with the Missouri Valley Conference and Mountain West Conference, where he worked closely with basketball coaches and administrators, campus and conference leaders in administering conference and NCAA postseason events. Throughout his career, he has been involved in the oversight of more than 60 conference basketball championships and NCAA Tournament events, including multiple NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Regionals, NCAA First and Second Rounds, the 2012 NCAA Women’s Final Four, and multi-team competitions.
He currently serves as Chair of the NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Oversight Committee, one of the primary governance bodies guiding Division I men’s basketball. In that role, he works alongside coaches, student-athletes, national leaders and NCAA staff, and serves as an ex-officio member of the NABC Board of Directors, advocating for collaboration and coach engagement within the sport’s governance structure.
Since becoming commissioner in 2020, Butterly has worked alongside campus and conference leadership, inclusive of coaches and student-athletes, to guide The Big West through a period of strategic growth. During that time, the conference signed a landmark media partnership with ESPN, expanded national broadcast visibility, returned its basketball championships to the Las Vegas Valley at Lee’s Family Forum, and developed initiatives designed to improve the student-athlete experience, support long-term sustainability and competitive improvement.
Big West basketball has experienced measurable competitive progress during his tenure. This season, The Big West ranked 11th among 32 NCAA Division I conferences in men’s basketball — the highest conference rating since the introduction of the KenPom system in 1997. The 2025 Big West Basketball Championships presented by Credit Union 1 also saw a 31 percent increase in overall attendance, including a 62 percent increase in championship game attendance.
“I am deeply grateful to the NABC for this recognition, but this honor reflects the coaches, student-athletes and colleagues I’ve had the privilege to serve alongside throughout my career,” Butterly said. “College basketball has given me far more than I could ever give back. It is built on relationships, trust and a shared commitment to young people. I am thankful to support the people who dedicate their lives to the game, and to the NABC for this recognition.”
Over the course of his career, Butterly has been directly involved in the administration and execution of more than 500 NCAA and conference basketball games — experiences that reflect a sustained commitment to supporting the coaches and student-athletes who make college basketball possible. Widely regarded as a leading voice in college basketball, and a key figure in the implementation of technological advances within the game, the NABC Cliff Wells Appreciation Award celebrates Butterly’s leadership, integrity and lasting contributions to the sport.