Butler, Vacaflores Inducted into Pitt-Bradford Athletics Hall of Fame

Bradford, Pa. – The University of Pittsburgh at Bradford Athletics Department inducted its 2023 Class into the Athletics Hall of Fame on Saturday, September 23rd. The class is made up of former men’s and women’s soccer coach Peter Butler and men’s soccer player Dr. Diego Vacaflores of the graduating class of 2000.

Butler is synonymous with soccer in McKean County as he has started and coached programs in the area for more than 40 years. Butler joined Pitt-Bradford’s men’s soccer program as an assistant in 1983 before being promoted to head coach in 1989. He helped the university start its women’s soccer program in 1994 and served as the head coach for both teams until 2004.

While coaching at Pitt-Bradford, Butler also started and coached scholastic programs in the area. He was the first boys’ soccer head coach at Bradford Central Christian from 1987-88, Fretz Middle School from 2004-22, and both the boys’ and girls’ teams at Smethport from 2005-2014.

In 2016, Butler rejoined the Pitt-Bradford men’s soccer program, serving as an assistant until 2022. He is currently the head coach of the Bradford Area High School boys’ soccer team.

To date, Peter has been on the sidelines for 611 collegiate and 324 scholastic soccer games. As a head coach, he amassed 121 collegiate victories and guided players to All-AMCC honors 29 times, two players to AMCC Co-Newcomer of the Year Awards, and was named AMCC Co-Coach of the Year in 2000.

Dr. Vacaflores was a longtime resident of Bradford before joining the men’s soccer team at Pitt-Bradford. He was a member of the team for three seasons, playing from 1997-99.

Diego played in 51 total matches, starting in 44 of them. At the time, he set program records in goals at 33, assists at 15, and points at 81. He is currently third in program history in goals and points. In 1998, Diego scored 16 goals, which for 23 seasons stood as the program’s single-season mark.

Diego was a two-time All-AMCC honoree, making the all-conference list in 1998 and 1999. He also was a two-time AMCC Player of the Week, winning the awards in September 1997 and October 1998. He was voted the team’s most valuable player in 1998 and named Pitt-Bradford’s Male Athlete of the Year that same season.

Diego was not just a success on the soccer pitch, but he also excelled in the classroom. He graduated in three years, earning AMCC All-Academic Team honors for all three of his years in Bradford. He is currently the Associate Dean of College Programs and a Professor of Economics at Texas State University.

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