*Georgetown women’s basketball coach Tasha Butts has died after a two-year battle with breast cancer. She was 41.
Butts was hired by Georgetown last April after serving as an assistant coach for multiple conferences for nearly two decades, The Athletic reports.
“The news of Tasha’s passing is incredibly sad,” Georgia Tech coach Nell Fortner said in a release. “Tasha was so instrumental to the success of this program. What she did as a member of this coaching staff cannot be undervalued. She was tough — tough on her kids, tough in her expectations, but yet she was soft underneath when players needed her to be there for them, and she was always there for them. We are incredibly sad this day has come. She battled from the day of her diagnosis. We are proud of her fight to the end. We will forever love Tasha. She will forever be missed.”
As The Athletic reports, Butts worked for Georgia Tech for four seasons as an assistant coach and associate head coach, LSU for eight seasons, UCLA for three seasons, and one year at Duquesne.
As a player, she was a guard at Tennessee and “won four SEC regular-season titles and helped the Lady Vols get to two national title games,” per The Athletic.
Our hearts are heavy as we learn of the passing of Tasha Butts.
A beloved member of the basketball community, Tasha was drafted 20th overall in 2004 by the Minnesota Lynx after a legendary career at Tennessee, and was continuing her legacy as a renowned coach at the college… pic.twitter.com/DFK7GaJ3hW
— WNBA (@WNBA) October 23, 2023
On X (formally Twitter), the WNBA paid tribute to Butts in a post that stated: Our hearts are heavy as we learn of the passing of Tasha Butts. A beloved member of the basketball community, Tasha was drafted 20th overall in 2004 by the Minnesota Lynx after a legendary career at Tennessee, and was continuing her legacy as a renowned coach at the college level. Our thoughts and prayers are with Tasha’s family and loved ones at this time.”
Butts is reportedly survived by her parents, her brother, and a nephew.
Lady Vols are #TashaTough!
Sending our love to LVFL @TashaButtsHoyas 🧡 pic.twitter.com/Z1HjzQbGYg
— Lady Vols Basketball (@LadyVol_Hoops) October 17, 2023
READ MORE: Wisconsin’s Women’s Basketball Coach Calls Players ‘Run-Of-The-Mill White Kids’ | Video
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