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The “Graveyard Mentality” & Being a Leader with Penn State Assistant Baseball Coach André Butler

Penn State Baseball Assistant Coach Andre Butler sits down on the Hustle & Motivate podcast to discuss the "Graveyard Mentality" and how he went from a barely recruited D3 player to a top-tier D1 coach. Presented by Joker Mag, the home of the underdog.
Credit-Penn State Athletics/Joker Mag Illustration

If you’re someone who’s been told you weren’t good enough, not big enough, not fast enough, not smart enough, or if you’ve ever felt paralyzed by a failure that you just weren’t willing to accept, this is the show for you.

Hustle & Motivate is a blueprint, built by guests who’ve conquered obstacles, silenced critics, and overcome adversity by seeing every failure as an opportunity, realizing the true power of the underdog mentality.

Through insightful and thought-provoking conversations, we uncover the stories behind these impressive individuals.

The aim is to show you what you’re capable of.

Realizing that a simple mindset shift opens up a world of possibilities.  Because in the end, you can do anything you believe you can achieve.

Who Is André Butler?

Coach Andre Butler breaks down the huddle with his outfielders
Credit-Penn State Athletics

Today’s guest went from being barely recruited to a Division 3 school, to becoming an assistant coach for one of the top Division 1 baseball programs in the country.

Coach André Butler started a movement at Penn State called the “Graveyard Mentality”. He describes his outfield as “a place where the hopes of base hits are laid to rest”.

The “Graveyard” has helped to not only energize his players but is also a huge reason the team is off to such a hot start this season.

Quote Of The Week

“Don’t chase dollar signs. Chase opportunity. The money’s gonna come. If you’re really good at your job, and you always seek opportunity after opportunity, the money will come at some point.” – André Butler

Show Highlights

[4:56] How a Philadelphia high schooler with “absolutely zero looks” from colleges ended up playing college baseball.

[8:46] The natural way to become a more outspoken leader.

[10:32] How he changed his approach to coaching over the years.

[14:15] Why it’s not rare for a Division 3 player to end up coaching at a Division 1 program.

[16:44] Explaining the “Graveyard Mentality” and why your team needs to sense that there’s “some sort of craziness” about your passion for what you’re doing.

[20:31] The importance of the mental side and how it applies to everyday life.

[24:49] Coach Butler’s biggest piece of advice for others out there pursuing their dreams.

After Listening…

Do yourself a favor and go follow André on Twitter @CoachButler42. He’s always posting clips, tips, and tricks for baseball players and coaches alike.

But even if you’re not a baseball fan, there are plenty of real-world lessons you can take away.

Remember, whether you’re on the road or at the office, you can find Hustle & Motivate on all your favorite listening platforms:

If you enjoyed the show, we’d really appreciate if you dropped us a quick review on iTunes. It goes a long way in getting our message in front of more people who could use it.

Thanks for listening!

Questions or suggestions?  Let it loose in the comments below!

Written By

Division III baseball alum (McDaniel College), founder of Joker Mag, and author of The Underdog Mentality: Sports Stories That Will Change How You See the Game (And Yourself). Since launching in November 2017, my stories have been featured on platforms such as FOX Sports, SB Nation, and The Sporting News, reaching over 1.5 million readers worldwide. The seed was planted way back in 7th grade when I got cut from the baseball team. Instead of giving up, I found hope and inspiration in stories of undersized athletes who defied expectations. I ultimately played baseball through college, earning Honorable Mention on the All-Centennial Conference team in my senior season. Today, my mission is simple: To share stories that give people the same feeling I felt when I was that undersized ballplayer searching for hope, inspiration, and evidence that my dream was possible. Like my mom always told me, you can do anything you set your mind to. Sometimes we just need a little extra push. And that’s why I’m so passionate about sharing these stories with the world.

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