One of the most innovative coaches in the history of college football, James Wallace Butts coached the University of Georgia for 22 years and brought the Bulldogs to their first bowl game in 1942, when Georgia defeated Texas Christian 40-26 in the Orange Bowl.

The "Little Round Man" had a 5-2-1 bowl record, and the Bulldogs captured four Southeastern Conference titles during his tenure. He finished with a career record of 140-86-9 (.614), and was named SEC Coach of the Year in 1942, 1946, and 1959. Butts was runner-up for National Coach of the Year honors in 1959 (Ben Schwartzwalder finished first that year).

An advocate of the passing game, Butts coached three College Hall of Famers (Frank Sinkwich, Charley Trippi and Frank Tarkenton) and at the time of his retirement was Georgia's all-time winningest coach. In 1960, Butts retired from coaching and served as Georgia's athletic director for three years. He was inducted into the Georgia Sports Hall of Fame in 1966 and has two team awards in his honor.

James Wallace Butts died December 17, 1973. He is survived by his daughter, Nancy Butts Murray.

Butts was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame at the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame's 40th Annual Awards Dinner on Tuesday, December 9, 1997, at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in New York City.