Bill Buttner spent 21 years leading the Tritons, joining Eckerd in 2002 as the head men's golf coach before launching the women's program in 2006-7. He retired as Eckerd's head coach in May 2023, and stayed on as the assistant coach. He enters his 24th overall year with Eckerd, and third as assistant for the 2025-26 season. 

An accomplished player, Buttner spent 15 years in professional golf including six years on the PGA Tour. He had five top-10 finishes overall and played in five U.S. Opens. He then moved to the teaching ranks, having been a certified Class A PGA Professional since 1985. 

Sunshine State Conference Coach of the Year (2005)

Along with Susan McDermott, Buttner also started the annual Matthew T. McDermott Fundraising Tournament to honor the former Eckerd golfer who tragically died in the September 11 attacks.

As head coach
Men’s NCAA Tournament Appearance: 2005-06, 2011-12, and 2012-13

Men's NCAA Individual Championship Berths: C.J. Denmark (2007), Callum Georgallides (2011), Jeff Evanier (2012)

Women's NCAA Individual Championship Berths: Amelie Alcantara (2023) 

WGCA All-American: Amelie Alcantara (2023) First Team

GCAA All-American: Jeff Evanier (2013) Honorable Mention 

WGCA All-Region: Amelie Alcantara

Under Buttner's tutelage, the men's team reached the NCAA Tournament in 2005-06, 2011-12 and 2012-13, accounting for three of the program's four total NCAA berths (1997-98).

In addition, three individuals on the men's team have been selected for NCAA Championships play under his direction with C.J. Denmark receiving the first honor in 2007, Callum Georgallides joining in 2011, and Jeff Evanier qualifying in 2012.

He coached Evanier to GCAA Honorable Mention All-American honors in 2013, the first All-American in program history. 

Buttner was named the Sunshine State Conference Coach of the Year in 2005 following the Tritons' third-place finish in the conference tournament and Nick Rockmann's individual championship. 

In the 2022-23 season, Buttner led the women's team to new heights, including being ranked No. 29 nationally in the final Golf Stats poll. The team reached new program marks for 18-hole, 36-hole, and 56-hole scoring records, while winning two events at the Invite at Innisbrook and Golden Knights Invitational. He also guided freshman phenom, Amelie Alcantara, to the best individual season in program history. She became the first player in program history to qualify for the NCAA tournament. She finished 11th at the South Regional in Gainesville, Georgia to qualify for nationals, where she carded a 1-over 217 to finish tied for sixth. She finished the season ranked No. 5 in the nation, and was tabbed a WGCA First Team All-American, the first All-American in program history. She also garnered all-region, and first team All-SSC honors. She posted two individual wins, while setting the program record fro a single-round with a 65 at the Palm Beach Intercollegiate, her second career event.   

In 2018, Buttner has guided Laila Forstame and Justin Ayanian both to individual school records. Forstmane set the program record for lowest 18-hole score, firing a 3-under 69 in the opening round of the NSU Shark Invitational on October 8, 2018. Ayanian set a new school record of 64 in a round at the Saint Leo Invitational on February 26, 2018. 

In March of 2018, his women's team took second place at the Jim English Centre College Invitational at Saddlebrook Golf Club.

In the shortened 2019-20 season, Tim Scholl of the men's team posted five top-25 finishes and Laila Forstmane of the women's team collected four top-20 finishes, while the women shot a new 54-hole record at the Peggy Kirk Invitational. 

In the 2021-22 season, Sandra Eriksson carded a single-round low 72 and a 79.3 season stroke average, both the lowest marks by a freshman in program history. 

2009-10, the men's team led the Sunshine State Conference on the SSC Commissioner's Honor Roll honoring student-athletes with a GPA of 3.2 or better.

Buttner graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1978. He has three children: Will, Hayden and Leigh.

Through his relationships, Buttner has secured playing and practice privileges at some of the best courses in the Bay area. The Tritons play at St. Petersburg Country Club, Vinoy Club, Feather Sound Country Club, Bayou Country Club, and Isla del Sol Country Club. The squads also practice at Mangrove Bay Golf Club.