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Here at Denville Medical, our commitment is to you and your health. We are committed to improving your quality of life by effective treatment and therapy, catered specifically to your needs. Unlike some of our competition, we take a team approach to your treatment plan working together as a unit to provide the best possible care for our patients.
It's easy to start your healing journey at Denville Medical. It all starts when you contact our office to make an appointment. From there, we set you on a course to recovery through a three-step process:
Meet the Doctor: During your initial doctor consultation, we will talk at length about what challenges you're currently facing. From there, we will speak about your goals and what you want to accomplish together. The first conversation with your doctor is crucial and lays the groundwork for a life-changing experience at Denville Medical.
Craft a Customized Treatment Plan for Your Recovery: Some medical and rehabilitation centers in New Jersey apply the same treatments to all patients, regardless of their needs and goals. At Denville Medical, we don't subscribe to the "one size fits all" model. Instead, we rely on our seasoned team of doctors and physical therapists, chiropractors, acupuncturists and specialists to find the right solution to your unique situation.
Start Feeling the Relief: Our hard work and commitment to recovery will pay off through our personalized work together. With the help of our skilled doctors and chiropractors, you can finally start living the life you want to live - all on your own terms.
At Denville Medical & Sports Rehabilitation Center, we are proud to provide holistic and wellness care that changes lives. Whether your body needs Chiropractor, physical therapy, acupuncture, or needs to see a specialist, we can help.
Here are just a few of the customized therapy services we offer to help our patients live with passion and confidence:
At Denville Medical, your licensed physical therapist's goal is to maximize your body's structure and increase its overall function for long-term health. To accomplish this, our physical therapists combine traditional and innovative techniques focused on increasing muscle strength and improving the body's range of motion. Our goal is to discover the root cause of your pain or mobility problems. That way, we can address the true reason why you need physical therapy, and work towards achieving long-lasting relief.
Of course, we understand that every patient is different. Your doctor can provide expert care in an encouraging environment by creating a customized treatment plan for you using modern, evidence-based research.
Chiropractor is a common service offered at Denville Medical, often combined with our physical therapy, sports medicine, and acupuncture treatments. When delivering a whole wellness and body approach, chiropractic treatments generally focus on the musculoskeletal and nervous systems. Our chiropractor's primary focus is to aid in adjusting your body's proper structure by improving nerve function and removing imbalances.
Our goal is to work together as a team to get you maximum medical improvement. To determine which chiropractic techniques and treatments are suitable for you, our chiropractors will conduct an initial evaluation to dig deep into your medical history, previous treatments, diagnostic tests, and current conditions. During your first consultation, be sure to ask any questions you may have. Once we agree on your customized chiropractic program, we will begin treatment as soon as possible.
Our patients typically feel relief during their initial visit. Although a reduction in pain is not an indication that the condition is gone, relief is the first step. As the chiropractor adjusts and manipulates your spine and joints, many feel a sense of relief as circulation is restored. A number of our patients admit to experiencing an increased range of motion after their first visit and increased function as they continue their care.
A single migraine can ruin your entire day. Migraines stem from irregular muscle contractions in the neck and head area. Anything from loud music to a bright computer screen can trigger these painful headaches. Fortunately, your chiropractor may be able to help provide an escape from the pain without surgery or drugs. Migraine symptoms include:
After speaking with your Doctor of Chiropractic, he or she may recommend treatments like trigger point therapy, which is a neuromuscular massage. Trigger point therapy boosts blood flow and releases pressure from compressed nerves in your body.
Whether you work in an office 40 hours a week or have to lift heavy items in a warehouse, neck pain is common across all people and professions. Neck pain is debilitating and can be caused by a range of issues like poor posture, work injuries, and harmful sleeping positions. These issues often strain your neck muscles. If you notice any of these symptoms, it could be time to consult with a chiropractor:
Chiropractor helps by relieving nerve and disc pressure. These nerves and discs are located between your vertebrae. After identifying the underlying cause of your pain, your chiropractor may use a combination of treatments to provide relief.
Have you been suffering from sharp pain that shoots down your back to your lower legs? If so, you might have sciatica. Your sciatic nerve is the longest nerve in your body. Sciatic pain begins when your sciatic nerve is pinched or trapped, or you have underlying conditions like spinal stenosis or a herniated disc. Symptoms of Sciatica often include:
Proper Chiropractor can relieve your pain in a gentle, natural way. Since your pain is unique, your treatment plan should be too. Therapies include ultrasounds to reduce swelling, cold therapies to minimize inflammation, and adjustments to restore your vertebrae's alignment.
Joint pain from conditions like Arthritis can strip the joy out of simple activities that we enjoy every day. Fortunately, if you're looking for a non-invasive way to ease joint pain, your chiropractor may be able to help. Great Chiropractor will maximize the functionality of your joints with techniques like ultrasounds, cold laser therapies, and joint manipulation. Usually caused by various forms of Arthritis, age, and injuries, symptoms of joint pain include:
If joint pain affects your daily life, contact a licensed chiropractor to begin treatment ASAP. Your chiropractor will develop a customized plan around your pain to address the root cause of your discomfort.
Our hips serve many functions, from bearing weight to running. Since they're engaged in just about every way we move, hip problems can have serious consequences. Like neck pain, hip pain is very common – so much so that more than 58% of Americans are living with it, according to the CDC. Hip problems are usually caused by injuries or osteoarthritis, though normal wear and tear over time is also a contributing factor. If you notice any of these symptoms, an appointment with a chiropractor may be in order:
Since any joint in the body can be misaligned, like your hip joint, working with a chiropractor could be best for long-term relief. Any joint in the body can be out of alignment, including the hip joint, and it can cause severe pain, discomfort, and limited range of motion. Treatments in your personalized plan may include chiropractic adjustments, stretching, and exercise therapy.
Your spine comprises a litany of moving parts that must work together for healthy mobility. Spinal discs are just one of these parts, which act as cushions between your vertebrae. When you have a herniated disc, the bones in your spine grind against each other, causing intense pain. Also called a slipped disc, this back problem is very common and can be caused by wear and tear with age or traumatic events like car accidents. Keep an eye out for the following symptoms of a herniated disc:
After your chiropractor evaluates your spine for overall functionality, they will develop a personalized treatment plan for ongoing care. Common treatments for herniated discs include spinal manipulation techniques like flexion-distraction and therapeutic exercises.
At Denville Medical, we aim to serve you with long-lasting quality of life through personalized chiropractic treatments in New Jersey. The path to a pain-free life begins with a customized treatment plan tailored to your body and needs. We start with your first evaluation, where our experts dig deep into your medical history, current condition, your overall health goals and perform diagnostic tests. From there, we'll create your plan and help you hit your milestones every step of the way until your quality of life is improved.
If you're sick and tired of living with painful limitations, we're here to help you break free. No surgery. No addictive medicine. Only comprehensive Chiropractor, crafted with health and happiness in mind.
Answer : While some chiropractors rely on outdated techniques to treat patients, our team uses a combination of tried-and-true methods and modern strategies, including:
Answer : During your first visit with our physical therapist, we will complete a series of tests and screenings to establish a baseline for your care. You can expect to complete stability screenings, strength tests, and computerized range of motion tests. These tests ensure your doctor understands how your muscles are functioning. Once complete, your therapist will create a custom treatment plan for your physical therapy, so we can move forward with your care. During your time at Denville Medical, you should expect adjustments to your treatment plan as you make progress.
Answer : We get this question a lot, and we can certainly understand why. Unfortunately, we cannot provide you with an exact answer because every patient has different needs relating to their injuries and issues. Your level of stability and functionality depends on your condition, your goals, and your motivation to heal. For acute pain, patients typically experience relief in 2-3 weeks. Patients with forms of chronic pain usually feel optimal results after their first full course of therapy (4-6 weeks). Since our goal is to achieve maximum medical improvement, our doctors continuously monitor your progress and adjust treatment accordingly.
If we could offer you one piece of advice, it would be not to settle for mediocre medical treatment and therapeutic options. If you're looking for a team of doctors and therapists who work together and take an interdisciplinary approach to healing, Denville Medical & Sports Rehabilitation is here for you. Contact our office today to learn more about how we can help you achieve your chiropractic goals and live your life, pain-free.
973-627-7888
Separated by a year and over 30 pounds, Butler 190-pounder Will Friscoe knew if he ever wanted to share a starting lineup with his brother and starting 165-pounder Tyrus, now was the time it needed to happen.Will hadn’t wrestled much before high school and had spent the pas two years playing basketball. But, wanting to be around his brother, he decided to go out for the wrestling team and lo and behold he made varsity right away.He made an impact right away, too, as Will, Tyrus and five other Bulldog wrestlers each record...
Separated by a year and over 30 pounds, Butler 190-pounder Will Friscoe knew if he ever wanted to share a starting lineup with his brother and starting 165-pounder Tyrus, now was the time it needed to happen.
Will hadn’t wrestled much before high school and had spent the pas two years playing basketball. But, wanting to be around his brother, he decided to go out for the wrestling team and lo and behold he made varsity right away.
He made an impact right away, too, as Will, Tyrus and five other Bulldog wrestlers each recorded pins in Butler’s 52-28 rout on the road against Verona.
The win was Will’s first at the varsity level in his first ever varsity bout, pinning Verona’s Nick Priori in 5:16.
And even though everything went according to plan and even though junior Will had older brother Tyrus there to calm him down, the former still couldn’t help but think about the proverbial what ifs.
“He [Tyrus] kept me grounded and we talked about it a lot every day after practice. He really just made sure I was calm and collected,” Will said post-match. “If I overthought it, he’d come over and tell me not to worry about it and that it was one match out of my whole high school career, but I definitely was still nervous.”
Butler coach Jason Luciani was especially impressed with the Friscoe’s performance.
“We won where we thought we’d win and then we had a couple of nice surprises in there. The Friscoe brothers coming through was really, really big,” Luciani said. “They both never wrestled much before high school. They’re both high character boys and are incredibly tough. They really push each other and the rest of the guys in the room.”
Indeed, no one in Butler’s room pushes the Friscoe brothers like they push each other.
“The fact that we both practice together — he works me to the absolute limit,” Will said. “I work him as much as I can but he gives me the best competition I’ve ever had in my entire life.”
And even though Will is younger and less experienced, he’s already confidence that what he’s throwing at Tyrus is more than enough to prepare the latter for whatever’s coming.
“It makes me think he already has his match in the bag,” Will said. “I push him to his absolute limit so there’s no reason this kid should be any better or any harder working than he should ever be.”
Tyrus doesn’t bother to hold out on Will, either. The sibling rivalry and competitiveness wouldn’t let that happen.
But it also can’t happen because Tyrus recognizes the importance of what he’s throwing at Will and how mutually beneficial it is to them both.
“I know I’m pushing him to his limit every freaking day. I know he’s got it,” Tyrus said. “If he can withstand me beating the crap out of him every single day, then he can beat this kid, whoever it is. It doesn’t matter. He always pushes me no matter what, that’s the bottom line.”
They recognize each other’s strengths and weaknesses, too. Tyrus fully admits Will is the far more aggressive, offensive-minded wrestler and more willing to attack. Tyrus, meanwhile likes to wait and react to what his opponent does, and if the situation permits, go for his signature collar tie.
The Friscoe’s trademarks worked well for them on Tuesday, but they’re part of a larger strategy and system Luciani has in place. It was on fill display and was a major reason why Butler notched seven pins in its opening dual of the season.
“We have a system we like to stick to and we tell the kids that when they execute it, the pins will come. Of course we definitely want to pin and we know pins and bonus points are always the key to dual meet victories,” Luciani said. “They know based on matchups where bonus points have to come and where they can’t give up bonus points and our kids did a good job on both of those fronts.”
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Despite the No. 23 being out of commission by the Miami Heat, Jimmy Butler claims the team used the jersey as a negotiating tool in their free-agent pitch to him.On Sunday, Butler visited Lids while waiting to learn who his Eastern Conference Finals opponent would be and spoke with fans about the numbers he has worn throughout his career.Butler entered the NBA sporting No. 21 for the Chicago Bulls before deciding to wear No. 23 when he played for the Minnesota Timberwolves and Philadelphia 76ers. In Miami, the No. 23 is retired...
Despite the No. 23 being out of commission by the Miami Heat, Jimmy Butler claims the team used the jersey as a negotiating tool in their free-agent pitch to him.
On Sunday, Butler visited Lids while waiting to learn who his Eastern Conference Finals opponent would be and spoke with fans about the numbers he has worn throughout his career.
Butler entered the NBA sporting No. 21 for the Chicago Bulls before deciding to wear No. 23 when he played for the Minnesota Timberwolves and Philadelphia 76ers. In Miami, the No. 23 is retired as a tribute to Michael Jordan and his legendary career. However, Butler claims Heat president Pat Riley was willing to unretire it if he signed with the team in 2019.
"[No.] 21 I think is a wrap for me. That was just like my Chicago days," Butler said in a video posted on Instagram. "I'll never wear 21 again. You can't wear 23 [with the Heat] because of M.J. Literally. Pat Riley retired it. But, I will say this, whenever I did come here, Pat told me that I could wear 23. But I said no, so 22 it is."
"You can't wear 23 here because of MJ. Literally, Pat Riley retired it… Whenever I did come here, Pat told me that I could wear 23 but I said no. So 22 it is."Jimmy Butler on his jersey number for the Heat(via @JimmyButler/ IG)pic.twitter.com/WTsXd0KW6G
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPointsApp) May 14, 2023
In a 2020 interview, Butler revealed that he chose his Heat jersey number to pay homage to former teammate Taj Gibson "one of the toughest individuals" he has played alongside.
During Jordan's final season (2003), Miami retired his No. 23, which marked the first retirement of a jersey number in franchise history. Six years later, Miami finally honored its own greats by officially retiring Alonzo Mourning and Tim Hardaway's Nos. 33 and 10 jerseys. Shaquille O'Neal, Chris Bosh and Dwyane Wade have all had their numbers retired as well.
20 years ago today: The Heat retire Michael Jordan's #23 jersey, then Jordan (age 40) scores 23 PTS (11-18 FG) in the first half of the Washington Wizards' 91-87 win in Miami.April 11, 2003. pic.twitter.com/kLWOYH0eeg
— NBA Cobwebs (@NBACobwebs) April 11, 2023
The Heat also have a No. 13 Miami Dolphins jersey recognizing quarterback Dan Marino, but the number is not officially retired by the team.
Jordan's Heat jersey retirement was also the first time an NBA franchise retired a number for a player who didn't play for its team, which has happened twice since then. The Dallas Mavericks retired the late great Kobe Bryant's No. 24 jersey in 2020, and last offseason, the Association retired 11-time champion Bill Russell's No. 6 league-wide following his passing.
Butler's Heat resume doesn't stack up to those among all-time franchise legends, considering he's only in his fourth season with Miami. Though in terms of per-game figures, it's hard to deny he's one of the best players in team history.
The 33-year-old is Miami's leader in steals per game (1.8) and ranks third in points per game (21.5). His 25.3 player efficiency rating is also second to four-time MVP LeBron James.
Udonis Haslem should be the next to have his number retired by Miami, and soon after, the current Laker James will receive the same honor. But if Butler leads the Heat on another trip to the NBA Finals, he'll have a compelling case for his No. 22 to hang in the Kaseya Center rafters someday.
More must-reads:
Miami Heat forward Jimmy Butler just continues to find ways to torment Boston sports fans, even on off days.After spearheading the Heat to a Game 1 road win over the Celtics with a sensational 35-point performance to go with seven assists, five rebounds and six steals, Butler was back on the court Thursday but he wasn’t donning the usual Miami practice garb for the session.Instead, the Heat ...
Miami Heat forward Jimmy Butler just continues to find ways to torment Boston sports fans, even on off days.
After spearheading the Heat to a Game 1 road win over the Celtics with a sensational 35-point performance to go with seven assists, five rebounds and six steals, Butler was back on the court Thursday but he wasn’t donning the usual Miami practice garb for the session.
Instead, the Heat star threw on a jersey of Florida Panthers forward Matthew Tkachuk, which should bring up plenty of recent bad memories for Boston Bruins fans. Tkachuk was a catalyst for the Panthers in their first-round knockout of the Bruins in the Stanley Cup playoffs and became a villain during the series as he helped put an end to Boston’s historic season.
Butler was supporting Tkachuk and the Panthers as they began their Eastern Conference final Thursday night against the Carolina Hurricanes, but no doubt the move won’t ingratiate himself with those in the city of Boston. You can check out video of Butler getting up shots in the Tkachuk jersey courtesy of Playbook Sports.
Tkachuk does have a connection to Celtics star Jayson Tatum. They both were high school classmates at Chaminade Preparatory School located just outside of St. Louis.
But this was clearly another win for Butler in getting inside the heads of Boston fans, and he probably didn’t even do it on purpose.
Drew and Joe recap the Colts Sunday Night Football win over the 49ers in week 7 of NFL play!
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Miami Heat vs. Boston Celtics Spread, Line, Odds, Predictions, Picks and Betting Preview for NBA Basketball Game on 05/19
Date: 05/19/2023
Time: 08:30 PM
Venue: TD Garden
Betting Odds @ FanDuel
| Spread | Total | Moneyline | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Miami Heat | Open | +9.5 | -110 | O 224.5 | -110 | +350 |
| Current | +9 | -110 | 215.5 | -110 | +315 | |
| Boston Celtics | Open | -9.5 | -110 | U 224.5 | -110 | -450 |
| Current | -9 | -110 | 215.5 | -110 | -400 | |
Projected Lineups:
| 1. | SF | Jimmy Butler | 22.9 Points, 5.9 Rebounds, 5.3 Assists |
| 2. | C | Bam Adebayo | 20.4 Points, 9.2 Rebounds, 3.2 Assists |
| 3. | PG | Kyle Lowry | 11.2 Points, 4.1 Rebounds, 5.1 Assists |
| 4. | PG | Gabe Vincent | 9.4 Points, 2.1 Rebounds, 2.5 Assists |
| 5. | SG | Max Strus | 11.5 Points, 3.2 Rebounds, 2.1 Assists |
| 6. | PF | Caleb Martin | 9.6 Points, 4.8 Rebounds, 1.6 Assists |
| 1. | SF | Jayson Tatum | 30.1 Points, 8.8 Rebounds, 4.6 Assists |
| 2. | SG | Jaylen Brown | 26.6 Points, 6.9 Rebounds, 3.5 Assists |
| 3. | SG | Malcolm Brogdon | 14.9 Points, 4.2 Rebounds, 3.7 Assists |
| 4. | PG | Marcus Smart | 11.5 Points, 3.1 Rebounds, 6.3 Assists |
| 5. | C | Robert Williams III | 8.0 Points, 8.3 Rebounds, 1.4 Assists |
| 6. | C | Al Horford | 9.8 Points, 6.2 Rebounds, 3.0 Assists |
Last 5 Against The Spread:
| DATE | OPP | SPREAD | TOTAL | SCORE |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wed, May 17 | BOS | +8.5 | 213.0 | 123-116 |
| Fri, May 12 | NY | -6.5 | 204.5 | 96-92 |
| Wed, May 10 | NY | +3.5 | 209.5 | 112-103 |
| Mon, May 08 | NY | -4.5 | 209.5 | 109-101 |
| Sat, May 06 | NY | -4.0 | 207.0 | 105-86 |
| DATE | OPP | SPREAD | TOTAL | SCORE |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wed, May 17 | MIA | -8.5 | 213.0 | 123-116 |
| Sun, May 14 | PHI | -6.0 | 201.0 | 112-88 |
| Thu, May 11 | PHI | -2.5 | 210.5 | 95-86 |
| Tue, May 09 | PHI | -8.0 | 213.5 | 115-103 |
| Sun, May 07 | PHI | -1.0 | 213.5 | 116-115 |
Sparta High School 2022 marching band at the Butler High School Tournament of BandsPhoto Credit: ProvidedSparta High School 2022 marching band at the Butler High School Tournament of BandsPhoto Credit: ProvidedSparta High School 2022 marching band at the Butler High School Tournament of BandsPhoto Credit: ProvidedSparta High School 2022 marching band at the Butler High School Tournament of BandsPhoto Credit: Provided By Jennifer Dericks...
Sparta High School 2022 marching band at the Butler High School Tournament of BandsPhoto Credit: Provided
Sparta High School 2022 marching band at the Butler High School Tournament of BandsPhoto Credit: Provided
Sparta High School 2022 marching band at the Butler High School Tournament of BandsPhoto Credit: Provided
Sparta High School 2022 marching band at the Butler High School Tournament of BandsPhoto Credit: Provided
By Jennifer Dericks
PublishedOctober 21, 2022 at 3:14 PM
BUTLER, NJ - The Marching Spartans are in the top spot in their group in the Tournament of Bands. After taking their 2022 show “Fosse” on the road last Sunday, the band finished in first place in Group 2A with a score of 91.140, according to Andrew Lopez, Sparta High School instrumental teacher.
“We are so incredibly proud of the hard work our students have put in over the course of the 2022 season so far, and are excited that they have been recognized for their efforts at our competitions this year,” Lopez said.
Lopez attributes the band’s success, in part, to their mantra “win the day.” He said this puts the performers focus on competing with themselves, not on the other marching bands.
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“If we focus on doing what we need to do to have the best rehearsal or best performance possible, then everything else is a bonus,” Lopez said.
At the Butler competition they got more than the big trophy. The marching band also brought home the hardware for Best Overall Music and Best Overall Visual.
The band has won first place and all of the “caption awards” in their group at each of their three competitions this year; Jefferson Township High School on September 17, Madison High School on October 2 and Butler on October 16. This earns them a first place rank in Group 2A of all the bands that competed in the Tournament of Bands from across seven states, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia and West Virginia.
Key Leaders in the 2022 Marching Spartans:
“Our parent booster club is second to none,” Lopez said. “They volunteer countless hours during performances and many hours before and after, preparing food, working on equipment and props for our show, and doing whatever is needed to support our students. We are grateful for all that they do.”
The band hopes they will have fans come to support their performance at the Tournament of Band Region 10 New York City/Metro Area Championship at West Essex High School. They are scheduled to perform at 4:15 p.m. on Sunday, October 23
Their program includes selections from “Chicago,” “Cabaret,” “ Pippin,” “Sweet Charity” and Damn Yankees.” It is inspired by the “renowned choreographer Bob Fosse,” Lopez said.
Greg Butler is in the final days of a legendary career in North Jersey high school sports that has spanned 40 years.He coached Demarest and Don Bosco baseball to Bergen County, sectional and state titles – leading the latter to a mythical national title. As a football assistant, he helped Bergenfield and Demarest win NJSIAA sectional titles. As an athletic director, he's built Demarest into an overachieving program.Butler, 61, is retiring Thursday as the athletic director at Demarest, where, in the 1990s, h...
Greg Butler is in the final days of a legendary career in North Jersey high school sports that has spanned 40 years.
He coached Demarest and Don Bosco baseball to Bergen County, sectional and state titles – leading the latter to a mythical national title. As a football assistant, he helped Bergenfield and Demarest win NJSIAA sectional titles. As an athletic director, he's built Demarest into an overachieving program.
Butler, 61, is retiring Thursday as the athletic director at Demarest, where, in the 1990s, he coached the Norsemen to three Bergen County baseball titles, two sectional crowns and a state championship. Mike Oppido will take over as athletic director.
“I’m almost like a grandparent in this final month. I just focus on all the good things,” said Butler, whose nickname is Buts. “And all the nitty-gritty, the drama, all the craziness, Mike has been handling.”
“He’s not replaceable,” said Oppido, who has been an AD for more than a decade, at Wood-Ridge, Elmwood Park and Dumont. “You can’t just come in here and take over and say, ‘I’m the next Greg Butler.’ He’s cemented his legacy here at Demarest and in North Jersey.”
Butler built that legacy while preaching hustle, tenacity and teamwork. Along the way, he forged countless relationships with players, coaches and administrators that have lasted for decades.
“The thing that I take away from it is relationships, relationships that will never be forgotten, will be forever,” Butler said. “I want all the athletes to remember that their teammates are like family, and the success that we had together was because of that unity and was because of putting the team before themselves.”
“You know he cared for you as a person and wanted to see you succeed on the field and off,” said Alex Hayden, who pitched Demarest to Bergen County titles in 1992 and 1993 and quarterbacked the unbeaten 1992 football team to its lone sectional title. “And I think that helps when you have someone you know who believes in you and is interested in you, and not just about getting you to perform.”
Butler has been guiding players since 1982, when he returned to his alma mater, Bergenfield, as an assistant and helped the football team win North 1, Group 3 sectional titles in 1982, 1986 and 1987. The Bears haven’t won a sectional title since.
He was an assistant football coach for 21 years, at Bergenfield, Demarest, and Nutley, where he coached his son Matt.
To understand Butler the coach, you have to understand Butler the player. He played football and baseball at Bergenfield, winning a sectional football title in 1976 and a sectional baseball crown in 1977.
He played in the outfield and his favorite baseball player was Pete Rose, then known as “Charlie Hustle.” He had a poster of Rose in his room, as well as of Sylvester Stallone as Rocky in the award-winning 1976 movie.
“He was small, not exceptionally fast, not exceptional athletic ability, but he had this tenacity, and he had a tremendous work ethic,” said Frank Eufemia, a former major-league pitcher who was also Butler’s baseball teammate at Bergenfield and the pitching coach on his staff at Don Bosco.
“And Greg, in football, he took some shots,” returning punts and kickoffs, Eufemia added. “This day and age, he probably wouldn’t be able to play again for a couple of days, or a couple of weeks, because of the [concussion protocol] rules. But he would go right into the pile, and I remember him getting his bell rung several times, but he would get back up and be ready to go.”
Butler became Demarest’s baseball coach in 1988 and built the Norsemen into a powerhouse before stepping down in 2000 to become the district's health and physical education supervisor.
The Norsemen won Bergen County titles in 1992, 1993 and 1995. They won sectional titles in 1995 and 1999. They closed the decade by winning the Group 3 state championship in 1999.
Butler utilized game strategies that few North Jersey coaches employed. For starters, he coached first base rather than third base, where most head coaches stand. He did it to get more umpires’ calls and further motivate his players to hustle out of the batter’s box.
“If you think about it, first base is the most active base,” said Butler, who credits his college coach, Seton Hall’s Mike Sheppard, for a lot of his philosophy. “And the mentality of hustle, that no team was going to outhustle us, outwork us, that no one played the game harder than us.”
Butler also held football-like huddles in the dugout between innings. He talked a lot about what to look for from opposing pitchers that inning and made the Norsemen think.
“A lot of it was making sure that we were thinking about the situations and giving us the context and then letting us figure it out,” said Hayden, the Most Outstanding Player in the 1992 and 1993 Bergen County Tournaments. “And that’s important. It helps you develop, and it helps you build confidence and obviously let you make mistakes too, and that has to be OK. Let you fail and see how you get back up.”
Butler’s most memorable on-field accomplishment came in 2008, when he took over a talented Don Bosco baseball team that was in disarray and guided it to a 33-0 record.
The Ironmen capped it by winning the Non-Public A state championship and were voted No. 1 in the country by several publications.
“They needed someone to kind of heal the wounds,” said Butler, who coached baseball for 18 years, starting with Bergenfield and finishing with his final two seasons at Don Bosco. “It was a divided roster and we all had to come together, and that has always been my forte. My premise as a coach is ‘It’s about us, it’s about a team, and we’re strong together as a team,’ and I was able to cultivate that with a lot of guys who were tremendous players.
“They all had big egos – in a positive way. I say that they were confident, but we never would have reached the success we did unless we came together as a team and put, once again, the team ahead of yourself.”
He continued, of course, to coach first base and hold his dugout huddles, and also brought in good assistants.
“It’s a tribute to not only his mentoring skills but his personal skills and ability to not only feed off of people, but read the room and the situation,” said Eric Pfisterer, a senior left-handed pitcher and first baseman on that team. “Something that he does so well is interact with everyone around him, from his players to his coaches.”
Butler has been Demarest’s athletic director since 2009. Five times over the previous eight years, the Norsemen have won a Big North Conference All-Sports banner as the winningest program in their division. He has a reputation for hiring stellar coaches.
“Greg had the respect of everyone and his train of thought on what high school sports is, was so special,” said Joe Argenziano, president of the Board of Education.
“He poured his blood and sweat into making Northern Valley-Demarest a first-class athletic program," Oppido said. "He is like my older brother and mentor. We are all going to miss him, but he knows he isn’t allowed to disappear.”
Butler isn’t disappearing from the sports scene. He recently moved to Manchester Township in Ocean County, but he will remain a member of the executive committee of the Bergen County Coaches Association and the Big North Conference for the rest of this school year.
He sees himself coaching again, somewhere in Central Jersey perhaps, as a baseball assistant or volunteer. He'll attend Friday's home football game against Nutley. He will be honored Sunday afternoon at Seasons in Washington Township. (For more info, call Karen at the Demarest athletic department at 201-768-3200, extension 13290.)
“I don’t know where I’m going to pop up,” Butler said of his future. “That’s kind of the fun thing of this.”
Greg Mattura is a sports reporter for NorthJersey.com. For full access to live scores, breaking news and analysis from our Varsity Aces team, subscribe today. To get breaking news directly to your phone, sign up for our newsletter and download our app.
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