Todd Butler is getting back into the game he loves and a town he knows well.

Butler, who spent the last three years helping McNeese State rebuild its athletic program after the storms of 2020, has been named to the baseball coaching staff at Oklahoma.

Butler’s move became official Thursday when Oklahoma head coach Skip Johnson made the announcement. However, D1Baseball.com broke the news late Wednesday night and Butler confirmed it with the American Press shortly before midnight in a text.

“This kind of fell in my lap,” said Butler. “I wasn’t looking to go anywhere. I really enjoyed being back at McNeese and thought I would finish my career here.”

Butler, a native of Sulphur, played two years at McNeese before transferring to Oklahoma. He also served as both an assistant and head coach for the Cowboys.

“This has always been home,” said Butler. “It was a very tough decision to make. I have enjoyed working here and have a lot of great friends.”

While at McNeese over the last three years, Butler served as Senior Associate Athletics Director, helping the university rebuild after the devastating hurricanes of 2020.

“It has been a blast,” said Butler. “It has been tough for sure. We went through a lot but it has been very rewarding.

“This was not an easy decision.”

But the Sooners put on a full press to get the 56-year-old career baseball coach who has spent 28 seasons in college dugouts.

“We are excited to welcome Todd back home to Oklahoma,” Johnson told Soonersports.com. “He spent two years at OU playing and learning under one of the greatest coaches in our game in Coach (Enos) Semore, and as a coach, established a long track record of recruiting and developing some of the best players in the nation.

“He has been a part of highly successful teams, both in Omaha and in the SEC. He will be a valuable asset to our program going forward.”

Oklahoma will move to the SEC along with Texas in the 2025 baseball season.

“Being back in that league and coaching the elite players in the nation is very exciting to me,” said Butler. “It is a great chance to work with and compete against the very best there is. I am looking forward to that opportunity.”

McNeese will look to replace Butler in the coming weeks.

“Losing Todd is bittersweet for me,” said McNeese Athletic Director Heath Schroyer. “I’m losing a great fit for meet and our department but I’m really happy and excited for him, (wife) Melisa, and his family.

“Todd did a great job here and really helped me develop our culture within our department. I will miss him but it’s simply an opportunity he can’t pass up. It’s the business and I totally understand his decision.”