On the heels of one of the best men’s soccer seasons in school history, Butler named Paul Snape as the program’s new head coach.

The former University of Michigan associate head coach fills the vacancy left when Kelly Findley accepted the head coaching job at North Carolina State last month.

Butler received more than 200 applications after Findley left, according to associate athletic director Beth Goetz, who chaired the search committee.

“His passion and character really set him aparty from everyone else,” Goetz said. “We wanted someone who is driven for success but also understands the philosophy we keep here in the athletic department.”

Last season, Snape helped the Wolverines to their first Big Ten tournament title and a spot in the 2010 NCAA Division I College Cup Final Four.

“Snape has been a star for us at Michigan,” Michigan head coach Steve Burns said. “He is a top recruiter with a great eye for talent, he connects with people on a very human level and he is a tireless worker that helped raise the level of our program over the last eight seasons.”

After six years as an assistant coach at Michigan, Snape was promoted to associate head coach in 2009.

“We’re excited to have Paul join our staff,” Butler athletic director Barry Collier said. “He’s been part of a very successful program at Michigan and he’s had an instrumental role in developing Michigan talent.

“We’ve had tremendous success in our men’s soccer program and we feel that Paul is the right person to keep us moving forward.”