Aurora volleyball coach, once banned over sex allegations, faces new controversy

In 1995, Rick Butler, one of the most dominant youth volleyball coaches in the country, survived the kind of scandal now bringing down powerful men on a near-daily basis: claims that he had sexual relationships with underage female players who saw him as their golden ticket to college scholarships and Olympic glory.

That year, the sport's national governing body, USA Volleyball, banned Butler from its ranks.

But the ban didn't stick, helping Butler, now 63, go on to coach more than 20,000 teenage girls. The Aurora-based club he built, Sports Performance Volleyball, boasts four Olympic medalists and nearly 100 national championships.

Throughout it all, Butler's original accusers, all from Chicago's western suburbs, have refused to remain silent. Now one of them, Sarah Powers-Barnhard, herself a coach, has challenged Butler on the volleyball court - and in a court of law.

Meanwhile, a fourth accuser alleging inappropriate sexual behavior by Butler has come to light amid a five-month long Chicago Sun-Times investigation of his volleyball empire.

And a fifth alleged victim has "elected to remain silent," according to a year-old USA Volleyball internal complaint against Butler obtained by the Sun-Times. That document, the contents of which have never before been reported, outlines new claims of sexual misconduct and abusive coaching methods by Butler.

All five women's complaints are relevant now because of multiple efforts to cripple Butler's coaching career. The USA Volleyball complaint - which again seeks to ban Butler - has come to light because of an unsuccessful lawsuit filed by Butler in an attempt to thwart it.

Meanwhile, Powers-Barnhard has filed a separate lawsuit in Florida that aims to have Butler banned from another major sports governing body, the Amateur Athletic Union.

His fans say Butler has helped thousands of young girls become better athletes and people. Through his attorney, he says he's never sexually abused anyone. He's never been charged with a crime. And he claims this is all part of "an orchestrated campaign" to smear his reputation.

For the complete story, visit chicago.suntimes.com.