The Todd Butler File:
Alma Mater: McNeese State, 1991
Years at WSU: 6
Todd Butler is in his sixth season as the head coach of the Wichita State University baseball team. He came to WSU in June 2013 after spending the previous eight seasons as the hitting instructor, outfield coach and recruiting coordinator at the University of Arkansas.
During Butler’s 26-year tenure as a NCAA Division I assistant or head coach, he has guided his teams to five College World Series appearances and four NCAA super regionals. In addition, his teams have been ranked No. 1 five times in his career.
He has coached a combined 35 All-Americans and Freshman All-Americans, 167 players drafted in the MLB Draft and 45 Major League players.
In his tenure at WSU, Butler has coached 26 student-athletes who were drafted, and five players who combined for 10 All-American and Freshman All-American honors.
Athletic Accomplishments at Wichita State
Butler helped guide the Shockers to a 35-21-1 overall record last season, including a 23-8-1 mark and Eck Stadium and a 25-5 non-conference record.
The 2018 season also marked Wichita State’s inaugural season in the American Athletic Conference, which ranked fourth among all Division I baseball conferences in RPI.
Third baseman Alec Bohm become the 56th Shocker to earn All-America honors, and was taken third overall by the Philadelphia Phillies in the MLB Draft, becoming the second-highest draft pick in program history. He was also named a second team all-conference honoree in The American.
Additionally, freshman pitcher Liam Eddy garnered All-American accolades, as he was named a Freshman All-American by Collegiate Baseball. Senior catcher Gunnar Troutwine and junior utility player Luke Ritter were both named first team all-conference by the American Athletic Conference.
Led by Bohm, WSU had 11 players drafted in 2018 – the second-most draft picks in college baseball. Of the 11 players drafted, five were drafted in the first 10 rounds – also the second-most in college baseball. Greyson Jenista was taken in the second round by the Atlanta Braves, Codi Heuer was selected in the sixth round by the Chicago White Sox, and Troutwine (Chicago White Sox) and Chandler Sanburn (Texas Rangers) were both drafted in the ninth round.
In their first season in The American, the Shockers ranked second in team hitting (.289) in conference play, first in on-base percentage (.381), runs scored (150) and RBI (140), second in hits (238) and walks (107), and third in slugging percentage (.426), triples (4) and total bases (351).
Butler led Wichita State to a 31-28 overall record and a 13-8 mark in the Missouri Valley Conference during his first season in the dugout in 2014.
First baseman Casey Gillaspie became the fifth Shocker to be named a consensus first team All-American and was drafted 20th overall by the Tampa Bay Rays, becoming the 14th WSU player to be taken in the first round.
In 2015 and 2016, a combined nine Shockers were drafted.
Butler developed a young Wichita State lineup in 2016, as Jenista, Dayton Dugas, and Bohm were all named Freshman All-Americans.
Past Coaching Experience
In his eight seasons in the Arkansas dugout, Butler helped the Razorbacks to a pair of College World Series appearances (2009 and 2012 final four), three NCAA super regional berths and two SEC Western Division titles. In addition, he constructed five top-10 recruiting classes and had 51 players taken in the MLB Draft, including 12 players selected in the first two rounds.
In 2009, the Razorbacks utilized a combination of power and team speed to advance to the College World Series for the sixth time in program history. Arkansas advanced through the Norman Regional before sweeping Florida State in the Tallahassee Super Regional.
For the second time in his tenure at Arkansas, Butler assisted the Razorbacks to the College World Series in 2012. Arkansas finished the season with 46 victories, the most wins in a season since 1990 and the sixth-highest single-season total in program history. The Razorbacks won at least 40 games in a season for the 18th time in program history and for the fourth straight year.
Butler has constructed 10 recruiting classes that rank among the nation’s top-10, including five in his eight years with Arkansas.
In his eight years at Arkansas, Butler coached six All-Americans, including Nick Schmidt, Jess Todd, Zack Cox, Brett Eibner, Matt Reynolds and Ryne Stanek.
He also had 51 players drafted and 16 have made it to the Major Leagues, including Craig Gentry, Blake Parker, Duke Welker, Todd, Logan Forsythe, Dallas Keuchel, Drew Smyly, James McCann, Andy Wilkins, Eibner, Mike Bolsinger, Andrew Benintendi, Brian Anderson, Jalen Beeks, Stanek and Reynolds.
Before his time at Arkansas, Butler spent two separate stints as an assistant coach at the University of Alabama.
In his first stint with the Crimson Tide from 1995-2000, he served as the hitting instructor and outfielders’ coach, helping guide Alabama to six NCAA Regional appearances and three trips to the College World Series in 1996, 1997 (national runner-up) and 1999 (final four).
In addition to serving as the hitting instructor and outfielders’ coach during his first stop at Alabama, Butler was one of the chief recruiters for the program. He helped the Crimson Tide land some of the nation’s top talent as Alabama recorded three straight top-10 recruiting classes. The Tide’s 1999 freshman class was ranked as the fourth-best in the country and still ranks as the highest ranked class in program history.
In his second stint at Alabama from 2004-05, Butler served as an assistant coach and was the program’s recruiting coordinator, hitting instructor and infield coach.
In 2004, he coached Collegiate Baseball National Freshman of the Year and SEC Freshman of the Year Wade LeBlanc, who went 8-4 with a 2.08 ERA and eight complete games as a freshman. He earned third team All-America honors that season and was the only freshman to be named to the 2004 Baseball America All-America team.
He coached a combined 14 All-Americans and 45 MLB draft picks in his two stops at Alabama.
Prior to joining Alabama, Butler served two stints at McNeese State. He was the program’s head coach from 2001-03 and an assistant from 1993-94.
As the head coach of the Cowboys, he compiled a 90-83 (.520) overall record in three seasons. In his final season with McNeese State, he guided the Cowboys to the 2003 Southland Conference Tournament championship, their first in 10 years.
The win in the conference tournament qualified McNeese State for just their fourth NCAA Regional bid in program history.
As head coach at McNeese, Butler inked Clay Buchholz (Boston Red Sox), and coached Wade LeBlanc (Miami Marlins) and Jacob Marceaux (first round pick for the Miami Marlins).
In his first stint with the Cowboys in 1993-94, he served as an assistant coach under Tony Robichaux, now the head coach for the Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns. He helped guide the 1993 team to the Southland Conference Tournament championship and a berth in the NCAA tournament. The team won a program-record 41 games in 1994.
He coached seven MLB draft picks and future Major Leaguer Bob Howry in his two seasons as an assistant for the Cowboys.
Before joining McNeese State, Butler served as an assistant coach at Blinn Junior College in Brenham, Texas, in 1992 and spent two summers coaching in the Alaska Baseball League. He coached the Kenai Peninsula Oilers in 1991, Anchorage Glacier Pilots in 1992 and Liberal Bee Jays in 1993.
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Playing Experience
Butler played his college ball at McNeese State (1985-86) and Oklahoma (1987-88).
A team captain for the Sooners in 1988, Butler still holds the OU single-season record for stolen bases with 46 steals in 1988, including 26 consecutive successful stolen base attempts. Butler was a third-team All-American in 1988 and also earned All-Big Eight Conference honors and all-region honors. He played on two NCAA Tournament teams for the Sooners for legendary coach Enos Semore.
Butler also played for the Wareham Gatemen in the Cape Cod League.
In 1988, he signed with the Cleveland Indians and played for one season.
Butler’s coaching career began as a student-assistant coach at McNeese State, where he earned his bachelor’s degree in liberal studies in 1991.
Personal
Butler was born in Alexandria, La., and is married to the former Melissa Borrel. The couple has two daughters, Caitlyn and Kendyll.
