By Michael A. Lough

The Sports Report

centralgasports@gmail.com

          Two dozen years ago, Tasha Butts went baseline to baseline as one of the state’s top girls basketball players, helping Baldwin become a state championship contender.

          She went on to play at Tennessee for the legendary Pat Summitt, soon embarking on a coaching career that took her to her alma mater, Duquesne, UCLA, LSU, and Georgia Tech.

          But only months after all that led to her first head coaching job, the breast cancer she was diagnosed with in November of 2021 took her life.

          The 41-year-old died Monday morning, two months weeks after she had stepped away from duties as Georgetown’s head women’s coach, a position to which she was hired a little more than six months ago.

          She was an All-American at Baldwin, helping the Bravette to the state quarterfinals as  sophomore, semifinals as a junior, and finals as a senior.

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          Hher No. 23 was retired within month of her graduation. The Gatorade Player of the Year remains the Bravettes’ all-time leading scorer, and was celebrated with “Tasha Butts Day” in Milledgeville in 2004.

          Butts helped Tennessee to a 124-17 record from 2000-04, with consecutive national championship games and earning All-SEC second-team honors as a senior.  She left ranked fourth in games played.

          After graduation with a degree in sport management, she was the 20th pick of the 2004 WNBA draft, then played a year in Europe, soon starting her coaching career.

          At UCLA, she helped the Bruins reach No. 7 in 2011 and a 29-5 mark, mentoring eight All-Pac-10 academic players and three all-conference players. The Bruins went 72-26 with her on staff.

          Butts spent eight seasons at LSU and was part of six NCAA Tournament teams highlighted by a pair of Sweet 16 trips. The Tigers had six conference academic honoree and seven all-conference picks.

          Her impact in four seasons at Georgia Tech was big, helping head coach Nell Fortner and the Yellow Jackets to consecutive NCAA trips and 14 weeks in the top 25. Tech broke UConn’s 240-game win streak against unranked opponents.

          Tech beat nine ranked opponents, and recorded its top ACC finish at third in 2021.

          She was announced as Georgetown’s new head coach on April 11.

          “It has always been a dream of mine and to be awarded this opportunity to coach at such a prestigious institution, it is beyond any words,” she said. “I’m elated that I will have the opportunity to mentor, develop and coach these young women.”

          Butts is survived by her parents Evelyn and Spencer Sr., brother Spencer Jr., and nephew Marquis as well as extended family.

          Services are pending.