College basketball coach (born 1978)

Niya Denise Butts (born January 10, 1978) is an American women's college basketball coach, currently *ociate head coach at the University of Kentucky. She is the former head coach at the University of Arizona. As a player, she was a part of two national championships at the University of Tennessee.

Butts, a 6'0" forward from Americus, Georgia, played college basketball for Hall of Fame coach Pat Summitt at Tennessee from 1996 to 2000. She was a reserve for the Lady Vols, averaging 2.3 points and 1.2 rebounds per game, but was a part of National Championship teams in both 1997 and 1998. She was also a three-time Southeastern Conference All-Academic selection.

Following the close of her playing career, Butts entered the coaching ranks by taking an *istant coach role at Tennessee Tech in 2000. After two years there, she spent a season at Michigan State, then moved to the University of Kentucky as an *istant for head coach Mickie DeMoss. She was promoted to *ociate head coach for the 2007–08 season.

In 2008, she was named the first African-American head women's basketball coach at Arizona. On March 4, 2016, she coached her last game for Arizona at the Pac-12 tournament.

On May 14, 2016, the University of Kentucky announced that Butts would be returning to the women's basketball program as an *istant coach under head coach Matthew Mitchell.

Head Coaching Record

References

External links

• Arizona athletic bio