Niya Butts

Niya Denise Butts (born January 10, 1978)[1] is an American women’s college basketball coach, currently as assistant 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.

Niya Butts
Current position
TitleAssistant coach
TeamKentucky
ConferenceSEC
Biographical details
Born (1978-01-10) January 10, 1978
Americus, Georgia
Playing career
1996–2000Tennessee
Position(s)Forward
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
2000–2002Tennessee Tech (asst.)
2002–2003Michigan State (asst.)
2003–2008Kentucky (asst.)
2008–2016Arizona
2016–presentKentucky (asst.)
Head coaching record
Overall102–147 (.410)

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.[2]

Following the close of her playing career, Butts entered the coaching ranks by taking an assistant 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 assistant for head coach Mickie DeMoss. She was promoted to associate head coach for the 2007–08 season.

In 2008, she was named the first African-American head women's basketball coach at Arizona.[3] On March 4, 2016, she coached her last game for Arizona at the Paci-12 tournament.

On May 14, 2016, the University of Kentucky announced that Butts would be returning to the women's basketball program as an assistant coach under head coach Matthew Mitchell.[4]

Head Coaching Record
Statistics overview
Season Team Overall Conference Standing Postseason
Arizona (Pac-12 Conference) (2008–present)
2008–09 Arizona 12-194-14T-8th
2009–10 Arizona 14-176-128th
2010–11 Arizona 21-1210-8T-4thWNIT First Round
2011–12 Arizona 15-173-1512th
2012–13 Arizona 12-184-14T-11th
2013–14 Arizona 5-251-1712th
2014–15 Arizona 10-203-15T-11th
2015–16 Arizona 13-193-1511th
Arizona: 102–147 (.410)34–110 (.236)
Total:102–147 (.410)

      National champion         Postseason invitational champion  
      Conference regular season champion         Conference regular season and conference tournament champion
      Division regular season champion       Division regular season and conference tournament champion
      Conference tournament champion

References
  1. "Women's Basketball Coaches Career". NCAA. Retrieved September 30, 2015.
  2. "2011–12 Tennessee Women's Basketball Media Guide" (PDF). University of Tennessee. 2011. Retrieved December 18, 2011.
  3. "University of Arizona coaching biography" (http). University of Arizona. 2011. Retrieved December 18, 2011.
  4. "Former Arizona Head Coach Niya Butts Named Assistant Coach". WLEX-TV. 2016. Retrieved May 14, 2016.


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