Former Georgia Tech assistant Tasha Butts, 41, dies after battle with breast cancer

Tasha Butts, the former associate head coach of Georgia Tech women’s basketball and head coach of Georgetown University women’s basketball, passed away on Monday after a two-year battle with breast cancer. She was 41 years old.

Butts had a remarkable career in the world of basketball. She joined the Georgia Tech women’s basketball program as an assistant coach in 2019 and was later promoted to associate head coach in 2021. During her time at Georgia Tech, she played a pivotal role in the team’s success, including back-to-back NCAA Tournament appearances, two 20-win seasons, and significant achievements in the ACC, where the team reached its highest outright finish in program history at third place in 2021.

Nell Fortner, the head coach at Georgia Tech, spoke highly of Butts, acknowledging her contributions to the program, both in terms of her coaching abilities and her support for the players. Butts was known for her toughness and high expectations while also providing care and support when needed.

Butts’ coaching career extended to other esteemed institutions, including LSU, UCLA, and Duquesne. She was recognized for her contributions to women’s basketball and was named to the ABIS Women’s Basketball Black College Coaches Watch List in 2023. She also received the 2023 Giant Steps Award, which honors individuals who have demonstrated courage, heroism, and triumph amid adversity and community activism through the power of sport.

Butts had a strong basketball background as a four-year letterwinner at the University of Tennessee, where she helped the Lady Vols achieve great success. She later joined the WNBA, playing for the Minnesota Lynx, Charlotte Sting, and Houston Comets. She also had international basketball experience in Portugal and Israel.

In addition to her achievements on the court and on the sidelines, Butts was deeply involved in basketball-related programs and mentorship. She participated in various professional development programs for coaches and was dedicated to advancing the sport.

Butts, a native of Milledgeville, Georgia, was widely recognized in her hometown and was celebrated for her outstanding high school basketball career, with her jersey number retired by Baldwin High School. The city of Milledgeville even honored her with a key to the city and a proclamation of achievement on “Tasha Butts Day” in 2004.

Butts’ untimely passing is a loss to the world of basketball, and her contributions and legacy in the sport will be remembered and cherished.