Butler Community College athletic director Mike Helmer announced the hiring of Seth Wheeler as the next Grizzly baseball head coach on Friday afternoon.
Wheeler is a veteran of the Jayhawk Conference, having been the head assistant coach for the Hutchinson Blue Dragons for the past two seasons. Wheeler is a Butler Community College baseball alum, having played for the Grizzlies during the 2010-2011 seasons.
"Ever since I stepped foot on campus as a college freshman, I have wanted to lead the Butler Baseball program." said Wheeler. "This program has a storied history that I am humbled to be a part of. I want to thank Coach Helmer, Vice President Rinkenbaugh, and President Daniel for allowing my family to be a part of the Butler Community!"
Wheeler had previously been the head assistant coach at Hutchinson where he also served as the pitching coach under Brock Nehls from 2024-2025. The 2024 Blue Dragons set a school record for wins with a 51-12 season with a Jayhawk Conference championship and Region VI Tournament runner-up finish. Starting pitcher Ethan Giesbrecht and relief pitcher Caden Wanless were first-team all-Jayhawk West and second-team all-Region VI selections. Bradley Neill was a second-team selection and Trenton Roehler was an honorable mention pitcher in 2024.
The 2025 Blue Dragons finished 40-21, 18-14 in conference play. Hutchinson had a 5.98 ERA as a team for the season.
Prior to Hutchinson, Wheeler spent eight seasons on staff at Emporia State University where he served as the pitching coach, then was the Hornets' head coach for five seasons.
As the head coach of the Hornets, Wheeler led Emporia State to a 97-116 overall record, which included three trips to the NCAA Division II Tournament and a MIAA regular season championship. Wheeler helped guide 26 all-MIAA selections during his five-year stint as head coach.
Prior to Emporia State, Wheeler was the catching and strength and conditioning coach at Butler Community College in 2015. Both catchers for the Grizzlies that season were Division I selections. Wheeler also worked with the team on baserunning. The Grizzlies led the NJCAA in stolen bases in 2015 and finished with a 30-25 overall record.
Wheeler also served as the head coach for the Junction City Brigade collegiate summer league team from 2015-2017. Junction City had a 72-42 overall record with Wheeler at the helm.
Wheeler started his collegiate baseball playing career at Butler during the 2010 & 2011 seasons. Wheeler earned All-Jayhawk Conference honors during his sophomore campaign, and the 2010 Butler Grizzlies were the Jayhawk West co-champions.
Wheeler's playing career concluded at the University of Central Missouri. Wheeler was an honorable mention All-MIAA selection as a catcher for the Mules. He helped guide Central Missouri to a MIAA regular-season championship in 2014 while hitting .324.
An Overland Park, Kansas native, Wheeler graduated from Shawnee Mission South high school in 2009. He earned his associate's degree in liberal arts from Butler Community College in 2011 and later graduated from the University of Central Missouri with a bachelor's degree in business.
Wheeler and his wife, Kayla, have four children: Ford, Charlie Lou, and twins Miley and Gracie