The short search is over.

The Wichita State University Athletic Department announced University of Arkansas (UA) associate head coach Todd Butler as the 21st head coach of Shocker baseball.

Butler joins the team after former head coach Gene Stephenson was fired earlier this month after 36 years on the job.

“This is the finest day of my coaching career,” Butler said at a Monday press conference. “I am proud and honored to take the torch.”

Butler joins the Shockers after spending the last eight years coaching at UA in Fayetteville as the associate head coach. Butler had also served as an assistant coach in Alabama.

Butler is known for recruiting good players and batting coaching. He has coached 31 All-Americans, 124 players who were drafted in the MLB draft and 20 Major League players.

According to a press release, during his eight seasons at Alabama, Butler earned a reputation as one of the best recruiting coaches in the nation. Butler produced the top ten recruiting classes for three consecutive seasons. The recruiting class of 1999 was ranked the fourth-best recruiting class and still holds the title of one of the best recruiting classes that Alabama has ever had.

“As I spoke with Todd, it became obvious he was the right person to lead Shocker baseball,” said athletic director Eric Sexton. “His knowledge of the region, passion for the game and experience at the highest levels of NCAA competition were very important to me.”

Butler made five College World Series appearances, 17 NCAA regionals, four NCAA super regionals, six conference tournament championships and has been ranked No. 1 four times in his 21 year career as a NCAA Division 1 assistant or head coach.

WSU pitching coach Brent Kemnitz joined to welcomed Butler to the Shocker family.

“I have great confidence in Brent Kemnitz, one of the best pitching coaches in the country,” Butler said in a press release. “The stability he brings is a plus, and it gives me confidence in knowing I can lean on him in the transition.”

Sexton and Butler thanked Stephenson for his hard work in rebuilding and creating one of the top elite college baseball programs in the country. Stephenson and Butler have mutual ties from the University of Oklahoma in Norman, Okla. where Butler served as a captain on the baseball team.

Butler still holds the record for stolen bases. Stephenson served as the recruiting coordinator and batting coach. Stephenson helped recruit Butler to the Sooners baseball team.

According to Kansas.com, Sexton and Butler have agreed to a seven-year contract with a $300,000 annual salary.

With the resume that Butler brings to the Shockers, expectations are high for the 2014 season. Butler is all more than ready for what this coming season has to offer.

“Watch out for the Shockers,” Butler said.