Brian Butterfield, former Orono High School three-sport star and University of Maine second baseman, said he is looking forward to his new role as manager of the AAA International League’s Columbus Clippers, the top minor league affiliate of the New York Yankees.

Butterfield managed Yankees affiliate Tampa to a share of the Class A Florida State League championship last season after spending three seasons as the third base coach for the National League’s Arizona Diamondbacks.

Before that, he had spent 17 years in the Yankee organization. He managed in the low minors for the Yankees and eventually became the first base coach for the parent club.

“I thought I would be promoted, but it surprised me a little bit when they jumped me up to AAA,” said the 44-year-old Butterfield from his new home in Standish Wednesday. “I expected to go to [AA] Norwich.”

“I’m very pleased that they have shown this kind of confidence in me,” said Butterfield. “I had expressed a desire to manage older players and this is that opportunity. I’m looking forward to the challenge. From talking to other people and having been there, AAA is probably the most difficult place to manage. There will be a lot of older guys who don’t want to be there. They feel they should be in the big leagues. But if you aspire to manage in the major leagues, it’s a good challenge to have.”

He feels “discipline is very important as long as you don’t beat them up with it.”

“If you continue to harp on the same things, they may get tired of you. I talked with [former Pittsburgh and Florida manager] Jim Leyland at a fantasy camp and he told me if the players don’t like you and don’t think you’re any good, they’ll send you down,” said Butterfield.

Rob Thomson, the Yankees’ director of player development, said Butterfield comes from “great stock.”

He was referring to the late Jack Butterfield, the former University of Maine baseball coach who went on to become the director of player development and scouting for the Yankees.

“His father was one of the best baseball people in the business and Brian is the same way,” said Thomson. “He has tremendous knowledge, a high energy level, and a great feel for the game. He knows how to develop players and win. He works well with older players from having spent six or seven seasons in the big leagues.”

“He’s the complete package as far as a manager is concerned,” added Thomson. “He’s a great people person and can handle all the different situations one-on-one.”

Thomson feels Butterfield has a “definite chance to manage in the big leagues some day.”

Butterfield said having the support of Thomson and Mark Newman, the vice president in charge of baseball operations, makes things easier.

“One of the attractive things about the Yankees is it is a disciplined organization and people like Mark and Rob back their people. So you can do things the way you want to do them knowing they will support you,” said Butterfield.

He added that he won’t lose sight of the fact the success of the New York Yankees is the top priority of the organization.

“You’ve got to keep things in perspective. You do the best job you can. You try to win every night. But the Yankees are the most important club, not the Columbus Clippers,” said Butterfield, who will soon sign a one-year contract.

“I’ve heard [Yankee owner George] Mr. Steinbrenner is pretty tough on his AAA manager, but that’s fine. I’d rather have it that way than be in an organization where there is no accountability,” said Butterfield. “I’ve always had pressure on me because of my own expectations.”