(ANN ARBOR, MI) - Concordia Cardinals Men's Basketball Head Coach, Ricky Yahn, has announced a new team member this week, signing Derrick (DJ) Butler through Team IMPACT.
DJ was officially introduced on August 31, signing a National Letter of Intent at the Cardinal Fieldhouse on Wednesday. Back in 2020, DJ was involved in a car accident that caused him to be paralyzed. Growing up he has always been a huge fan of anything sports-related, especially basketball. DJ also likes to play video games such as NBA 2K. His favorite NBA player is Lebron James and is excited to join the Men's Basketball team.
Team IMPACT, a national non-profit organization, has developed a unique multiyear program that matches children facing serious illnesses and disabilities with college athletic teams across the country. Based on a clinical model, Team IMPACT guides a symbiotic relationship between teams and children focused on socialization, empowerment, and resilience.
Yahn had this to say about DJ and what he'll bring to the team. "We are so excited to welcome DJ as a member of our team! One of our Core Values is toughness, and DJ is one of the toughest kids I've ever met. He has fit right in with our guys and we look forward to this experience."
Founded in 2011, Team IMPACT has matched more than 2,300 children with 700+ colleges and universities in 49 states, impacting more than 60,000 student-athletes. If you know a child or team who may be interested, please visit www.teamimpact.org