Ken LaRose, who has served as Butler's Associate Athletic Director for Development since 2013, has announced his retirement, effective May 31.
 
Among his many accomplishments, he was inducted into the Butler Athletics Hall of Fame in 2007.
 
"There are generations of Bulldogs who have been positively impacted by Ken as a teammate, as a coach, as a colleague, and as a loyal Bulldog who worked selflessly to enhance the experience of all Butler student-athletes over the years," said Butler Vice President and Director of Athletics Barry Collier. "I am extremely grateful to Ken for the many contributions he has made at our alma mater and I am one of many who are fortunate to call him a friend. We all wish Ken and his family the best in retirement and look forward to seeing him around campus cheering on our Bulldogs."
 
"It's been an absolute honor and pleasure to serve Butler University for nearly 50 years as a student-athlete, coach, alum and administrator. I have had a special love affair with this place since I was recruited to play football in the fall of 1975," said LaRose. "I am grateful to Bill Sylvester for giving me the opportunity to play and coach football at Butler. I also want to thank Barry Collier for bringing me back to Butler to serve as a member of his senior staff in 2013. My goal at Butler was always to 'Make a Difference' in my roles as coach and fundraiser. I hope I did that with our student-athletes, alumni and donors. I will continue to be an ambassador for Butler and look forward to cheering on the Dawgs for many years to come. I am very proud to call myself a Butler Bulldog!"
 
LaRose's relationship with Butler began as a football student-athlete as the 1980 graduate was a three-time all-conference offensive lineman, earning most valuable player and team captain honors as a senior.
 
His coaching career brought him back to Butler as an assistant coach in 1984, serving in that capacity for eight seasons. During his tenure as an assistant coach, Butler won five conference championships and made two NCAA playoff appearances. He then was named the program's head coach.

LaRose served as Butler's head football coach from 1992-2001, the third-longest tenure of any football coach in Butler history. He presided over the greatest period of change in Butler football history, leading the Bulldogs from the NCAA Division II and the Midwest Intercollegiate Football Conference to the NCAA Division I-AA (now NCAA Division I FCS) and the Pioneer Football League. He guided Butler to two Conference Championships in 1992 and 1994.
 
In his current position at Butler, LaRose oversaw fundraising efforts for the athletic department including the annual Bulldog Club, major gifts, endowed funds and capital projects. He works closely with Collier on strategy and solicitation of gifts to support the needs of the athletic department.
 
Butler has completed two major Hinkle Fieldhouse renovations ($46 million) under LaRose's leadership. In 2020, LaRose established the Bulldog Forever Initiative to raise $2.5 million to offset the multi-million dollar deficit in the athletics operations budget due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Bulldog Club also continues to set records in dollar amounts and membership numbers.

While working in the private sector between his time as Butler's football coach and returning to his alma mater in the Associate Athletic Director role, LaRose served as the president of the B-Association.

LaRose earned a B.S. degree from Butler in 1980 and received his Master's Degree in Education from Butler in 1988.  He and his wife, Diana, are parents of three children, Gina, Kenny and Anthony.