Georgetown Women’s Basketball Coach Tasha Butts Passes Away at 41 from Breast Cancer: A Devastating Loss

Georgetown women’s basketball head coach Tasha Butts has sadly passed away after a courageous battle with breast cancer, the school revealed on Monday.

She was only 41 years old.

In a heartbreaking statement, Georgetown’s president, John J. DeGioia, described her death as “a devastating loss.”

“She was truly extraordinary,” added DeGioia. “Tasha was a remarkable individual, possessing character, determination, vision, and kindness. Our entire community, as well as countless people across the nation whose lives she impacted, will deeply mourn her absence.”

Butts made a name for herself on the basketball court during her time at Tennessee from 2000 to 2004, where she played as a forward under the legendary coach Pat Summit. She went on to be selected by the Minnesota Lynx in the second round of the 2004 WNBA Draft.

After her brief stint in the professional league, Butts transitioned to coaching and started as an assistant at Duquesne in 2007. She later coached at LSU and UCLA before landing the role of associate head coach at Georgia Tech in 2021.

Despite being diagnosed with breast cancer during the 2021 season, Butts achieved great success as the leader of the Georgia Tech women’s basketball team. In April of this year, she became the head coach at Georgetown.

However, she had to take a step back from coaching last month to focus on her battle against cancer.

Georgetown’s Athletic Director, Lee Reed, expressed his admiration for Butts, stating, “When I first met Tasha, I recognized her as a winner both on and off the court. Her drive, passion, and determination were truly unmatched, exhibited in every aspect of her life, including her fight against breast cancer. This is a challenging time for the entire Georgetown community, and we will come together to honor her memory.”

The university has announced that Darnell Haney will serve as the interim head coach for the upcoming season. Additionally, Georgetown and the Big East Conference will continue raising funds and spreading breast cancer awareness through the “Tasha Tough” initiative.