Todd Butler Named UA Assistant Baseball Coach

UA Sports Information- Friday, July 01, 2005 --- FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. - Former McNeese State head coach and Alabama assistant Todd Butler agreed to join Arkansas head coach Dave Van Horns staff as the Razorbacks hitting instructor and recruiting coordinator on Friday. "We are very excited to have Coach Butler joining our staff," Van Horn said. "He brings a lot of experience to the program. He is an outstanding hitting coach and a dynamic recruiter. Coach Butler has an outstanding track record of winning at every place he has coached. We are fortunate to add him to our staff. He has a good rapport with his players and I know that our guys will enjoy working with him." Van Horn moved quickly to secure Butler, who is considered one of the nations best hitting coaches and recruiters. Butler replaces Matt Deggs, who accepted a similar position at Texas A&M. "Im very excited about the tremendous opportunity offered to me by Dave Van Horn and the University of Arkansas," Butler said. "I look forward to working with Coach Van Horn and Coach (Dave) Jorn. Im ready to get to Fayetteville and start recruiting the next class of Razorbacks." Butler comes to Arkansas after eight years as an assistant coach for the Crimson Tide and three seasons as the head coach at his alma mater McNeese State. He was an assistant coach at Alabama from 1995-2000, helping the Tide to three College World Series appearances and four SEC Tournament Championships. He served as the Crimson Tides hitting coach and outfield coach in his first stint in Tuscaloosa. In 2001, Butler took over the reigns of the McNeese State program and guided the Cowboys to a 90-83 (.520) record in three seasons. He led McNeese State to a Southland Tournament Championship and a trip to the NCAA Houston Regional in 2003. Butler returned to Alabama in the summer of 2003 and has served as the teams recruiting coordinator, hitting instructor, infield coach and first base coach for the past two seasons. In 2004, the Crimson Tide returned to the NCAA Tournament with a berth in the NCAA New Orleans Regional. As a recruiting coordinator, Butler has been responsible for some of the nations top recruiting classes over the past 10 years. In his first stint at Alabama, the Tide recorded three consecutive Top 10 classes, including the 1999 class that was rated No. 4 in the country. Since his return, the Crimson Tides 2005 freshman class was ranked 10th by Baseball America. Butler also helped put together some of Alabamas best offensive clubs. His 1997 Alabama team led the NCAA in four offensive categories, including runs scored (679), hits (860) and total bases (1,571). Butler was an assistant coach on Tony Robichauxs (now at Louisiana-Lafayette) staff at McNeese State (1993-94) prior to going to Alabama. He also served as an assistant coach at Blinn Junior College in Brenham, Texas, in 1992. He was a two-year letterman at McNeese State from 1985-86 before playing his final two seasons at the University of Oklahoma in 1987-88. He served as a student-assistant coach at McNeese State from 1990-91. He earned his bachelors degree in liberal studies at McNeese State in 1991. Butler grew up in Lake Charles, La., and is married to the former Melissa Borrel. The couple has two daughters, Caitlyn and Kendyll. The Todd Butler File 1985-86 - McNeese State Two-Year letterman 1987-88 - Oklahoma Two-Year letterman 1990-91 - McNeese State Student Assistant Coach 1992 - Blinn Junior College Assistant Coach 1993-94 - McNeese State Assistant Coach Texas State Junior College Champions 3rd place at NJCAA World Series 1995-2000 - Alabama Assistant Coach Three CWS Appearances (1996-97-99) 1997 National Runner-up Six NCAA Regional Appearances (1995-2000) 1996 SEC Champions Four SEC Tournament Titles (1996-96-97-99) Led NCAA in four offensive statistical categories in 1997 2001-03 - McNeese State Head Coach 2003 Southland Conference Tournament Championship 2003 NCAA Houston Regional 2003-05 - Alabama Assistant Coach 2004 NCAA New Orleans Regional