Florida baseball is expected to hire Oklahoma assistant coach Todd Butler in a similar role, a source tells me.
Butler brings more than 30 years of coaching experience to Gainesville, including 20 seasons as an assistant coach in the SEC with stops at Alabama, Arkansas, Missouri, and Oklahoma.
The 59-year-old has also spent nine seasons as a head coach at McNeese State and Wichita State.
Butler spent the last three seasons with Oklahoma as an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator. The Sooners are coming off their third national championship in 2026 after a historic postseason run that included wins over five top-15 teams, four of which were ranked inside the top 10.
Prior to his time in Norman, Butler spent three years away from coaching while serving as McNeese State’s Senior Associate Athletics Director.
During his six seasons as Wichita State’s head coach from 2014-19, Butler coached 28 MLB Draft selections and 11 players who earned All-America or Freshman All-America honors. He also helped lead the program to the nation’s No. 2-ranked recruiting class in 2014. In 2018, Wichita State produced 11 MLB Draft picks, including five selected within the first 10 rounds.
Butler finished his tenure at Wichita State with a 169-180-1 overall record, including a 60-71-1 mark in conference play.
Before his second head coaching role, Butler spent eight seasons on the Arkansas staff under head coach Dave Van Horn. From 2006 to 2013, Arkansas qualified for the NCAA Tournament every year, reaching three Super Regionals (2009, 2010, 2012) and making two College World Series appearances (2009, 2012).
As the program’s associate head coach and recruiting coordinator, Butler was part of signing five top-10 recruiting classes, including the No. 1-ranked class nationally in 2009 and 2013. During that span, Arkansas also produced seven All-Americans, eight Freshman All-Americans, 18 All-SEC selections, 67 MLB Draft picks, 18 future major leaguers, and eight Team USA selections.
Across two separate stints totaling eight seasons at Alabama, Butler helped the Crimson Tide win four SEC Tournament titles, reach seven NCAA Regionals, and advance to the College World Series three times (1996, 1997, 1999), including a national runner-up finish in 1997.
During his time in Tuscaloosa, Alabama produced 22 All-Americans, nine Freshman All-Americans, and 17 All-SEC selections, while the program signed four top-10 recruiting classes.
Butler first served as a head coach at McNeese State from 2001-03, leading the Cowboys to the Southland Conference tournament championship and an NCAA Regional in 2003. It was only the program’s fourth NCAA postseason appearance.
The Alexandria, Louisiana native played college baseball at McNeese State and Oklahoma. He served as a team captain for the Sooners during his senior season in 1988, earning third-team All-America honors and All-Big Eight recognition. He later signed with the Cleveland Indians as an undrafted free agent.
Butler’s hiring fills the final vacancy on Florida’s coaching staff after pitching coach David Kopp and assistant coach Taylor Black parted ways with the program. The Gators recently hired Oregon State assistant coach Rich Dorman as their pitching coach.
Todd Butler’s Coaching Career
1992: Blinn College (asst.)
1993-94: McNeese State (asst.)
1995-2000: Alabama (hitting, outfielders)
2001-2003: McNeese State (head coach)
2004-2005: Alabama (recruiting coordinator, hitting, outfielders)
2006-2013: Arkansas (associate head coach, recruiting coordinator)
2014-2019: Wichita State (head coach)
2020: Missouri (recruiting coordinator)
2024-2026: Oklahoma (asst., recruiting coordinator)