Jackets assistant being treated for breast cancer

Georgia Tech assistant women’s basketball coach Tasha Butts was diagnosed with an advanced stage of breast cancer, Butts announced Wednesday in a news release from the school. Butts, who is in her third season on coach Nell Fortner’s staff, will continue her duties as she undergoes treatment. Team chief of staff Mickie Demoss will fill in for her when she is unable to fulfill her duties because of treatment.

“This has not been an easy discovery,” Butts said in a statement. “At age 39, I never thought I’d be sitting here dealing with this disease. But I have full confidence in my doctors, my faith, who I am and who I was taught to be, which is a fighter. I want to, and hope to be, an example and an inspiration for others who may be experiencing the same thing.”

Butts learned of the diagnosis in November and said in her statement she is “still processing this life-changing diagnosis and learning how to deal with it day-to-day.” She encouraged early detection and awareness of potential symptoms of breast cancer.

“We were all shocked with Tasha’s diagnosis, but the positive is she is in a fantastic city with doctors extremely qualified to treat her,” Fortner said in a statement. “Tasha has been instrumental in our success over these past two and a half seasons. She is surrounded by a Georgia Tech community that will support her and a team that will love her through this. Tasha is a strong woman who has every intention of beating this diagnosis, and we will be with her every step of the way.”

Butts, from Milledgeville and Baldwin High, played four years at Tennessee (2000-04), participating in three Final Fours, before playing professionally. She has coached since 2007, including eight seasons as an assistant at LSU (2011-19). Fortner hired her to her first staff in 2019, promoting her to associate head coach in April of this year.