Kellie Harper, the Tennessee basketball coach, took a moment to pay tribute to former Lady Vols player Tasha Butts during the team’s media day. Unfortunately, Butts passed away at the age of 41 after battling breast cancer for the past two years.
Harper expressed her condolences to Butts’ family and acknowledged the impact that her death has had on the program. Butts was set to begin her first season as the head coach at Georgetown but decided to step away to focus on her health.
The devastating news of Butts’ diagnosis came in December 2021 while she was coaching at Georgia Tech. In response, the “Tasha Tough” campaign was launched by Georgia Tech to raise funds for quality medical care for women in need through the Kay Yow Cancer Fund.
Tragically, Butts is the second former Lady Vol to pass away from breast cancer this year. Nikki McCray-Penson passed away in July. Harper emphasized the strong sense of family among Lady Vols alumni and how deeply these losses are felt by everyone connected to the program.
Butts had an incredible career as a player, making multiple Final Four and NCAA championship appearances with Tennessee. She began her coaching career as a graduate assistant under the legendary Pat Summitt and continued to work at Duquesne, UCLA, and LSU.
For those seeking more information on this heartbreaking news, Cora Hall, a journalist covering University of Tennessee women’s athletics, can be contacted at [email protected].
The loss of Tasha Butts is a devastating blow to the basketball community, particularly for the Lady Vols program. Her legacy as both a player and coach will be remembered, and her impact on the lives she touched will never be forgotten.
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