Georgetown Women's Basketball head coach Tasha Butts died on Oct. 23 following a two-year battle with breast cancer, the school announced Monday in a press release. 

She was 41. 

"I am heartbroken for Tasha's family, friends, players, teammates and colleagues," said Francis X. Rienzo Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Lee Reed. 

"When I met Tasha, I knew she was a winner on the court, and an incredible person whose drive, passion and determination was second to none. She exhibited these qualities both as a leader and in her fight against breast cancer. This is a difficult time for the entire Georgetown community, and we will come together to honor her memory."

Butts was entering her first year as the coach of the Hoyas and her first head coaching job after a long, successful career as an assistant. Butts announced during the 2021-2022 season, while at Georgia Tech, that she had been diagnosed with breast cancer. 

We will stay #TashaTough 💙

BIG EAST Statement Regarding Georgetown Women’s Basketball Coach Tasha Butts pic.twitter.com/1vjpG3KZUs

— BIG EAST WBB (@BIGEASTWBB) October 23, 2023

A four-year letter winner at Tennessee, Butts played for legendary coach Pat Summitt and began her coaching career with the Vols following the 2004 WNBA season. 

A native of Milledgeville, Georgia, Butts attended Baldwin High School where she was a consensus All-American and the Georgia Gatorade Player of the Year. She remains the all-time leading scorer at the school and her high school jersey No. 23 was retired in December 2000. In August 2004, the city of Milledgeville honored Butts with a key to the city and a proclamation of achievement on "Tasha Butts Day."

She is survived by her parents, Spencer, Sr. and Evelyn, her brother Spencer, Jr. and her nephew Marquis, along with an extended family and the entire women's basketball community.

With the 2023-24 campaign tipping off in November, Darnell Haney has been named Georgetown's interim head coach for the season. The Hoyas and BIG EAST Conference will continue to honor Butts' memory all season, keeping her Tasha Tough initiative going to bring awareness to early cancer screenings and detection.