On April 2 , 2007 , Lickliter resigned in order to take the head @-@ coaching position at the University of Iowa . The Butler players had a meeting with athletic director Barry Collier , urging him to promote from within . Collier , having spent the entire season observing the assistant coaches ' interaction with the team , agreed . The day after Lickliter resigned Stevens and Butler 's two other assistant coaches interviewed for the job . Within 24 hours of the interviews Stevens was named Butler 's new head coach . According to Collier , Stevens had something older , outside candidates could never match : six years of experience learning the Butler system , dubbed " The Butler Way " by Collier . " Age wasn 't a factor because I 'd seen his ability shine through during the course of the season , " Collier said .