James Butler, a star runner and coach at Eldorado High who later helped coach the powerful University of New Mexico cross country program and Olympian Courtney Frerichs, died Dec. 3 at age 41.
UNM announced his passing on Tuesday but gave no cause of death.
“Jimmy was an integral part of our Lobo family,” said UNM head coach Joe Franklin in a statement provided by the school. “He helped build New Mexico into one of the best programs in NCAA history. He will be dearly missed.”
He is survived by his parents Gretchen and Michael Butler, and sister Kim.