Summer Girls Hoop Camp: Camp Staff
Camp Staff
Niya Butts
Head Coach
Tennessee, 2000
The University
of Arizona named Niya Butts its new womens basketball head coach
on April 3, 2008, ushering in a new era in Wildcat womens hoops.
She becomes Arizonas eighth womans basketball head coach in program
history.
"We
are absolutely thrilled to be starting a new era with Niya as our head
coach, Livengood said. She brings playing experience, championship
experience, coaching and recruiting experience and a bright, young mind.
I can attest that we had a number of quality candidates for this job,
but the direction we expect to head with Niya gives us immediate cause
for optimism and downright anticipation. I believe everyone connected
with the program will soon share those feelings -- let's get this thing
started. "
Butts comes
to Tucson from the University of Kentucky where she spent the previous
five seasons as an assistant coach. This past season, she served as
Kentuckys associate head coach, and was the programs recruiting
coordinator for three seasons.
It is
an amazing feeling to be the head coach at Arizona, Butts said. This
is the opportunity I have been waiting for. Arizona is a great place,
and I am looking forward to taking the Wildcats to the next level.
During
her tenure at Kentucky, Butts helped coach the Wildcats to an 88-72
record (.550) over five seasons, with a trip to the NCAA Tournament
in 2005-06 and three WNIT appearances. This past season, Butts helped
lead Kentucky to a 17-16 overall record, an 8-6 mark in the SEC for
a fourth-place finish, and a WNIT quarterfinal appearance.
Before
her stint at Kentucky, Butts spent the 2002-03 season as an assistant
coach at Michigan State. Butts helped coach MSU to a 17-12 overall record
that season and an appearance in the NCAA Tournament, the Spartans
first since 1997. Prior to Michigan State, Butts spent two seasons as
an assistant coach at Tennessee Tech in Cookeville, Tenn., leading the
Golden Eaglettes to two Ohio Valley Conference regular-season championships
in both 2001 and 2002.
Butts played
collegiately at the University of Tennessee for Pat Summitt, where she
was a four-year letter winner and a member of two NCAA Championship
teams (1997, 1998). The Lady Vols won three SEC titles (1998, 1999,
2000) during her tenure, and she was voted the SECs Defensive Player
of the Year in 1997. She also won the Lady Vols Unsung Hero Award
that season. Butts was a three-time Academic All-SEC selection (1998,
1999, 2000) and earned Tennessees Academic Achiever of the Week four
times. She played in 111 career games at UT and graduated in 2000 with
a bachelors degree in social work and a minor in psychology. She
received a masters degree in education from Tennessee Tech in 2002.
Butts,
30, is a native of Americus, Ga.
Coaching
Career
2007-08: Associate Head Coach, Kentucky
2003-07: Assistant Coach, Kentucky
2002-2003: Assistant Coach, Michigan State
2000-2002: Assistant Coach, Tennessee Tech
Playing
Career at Tennessee
Four-year letter winner ... Helped the Lady Vols advance to four straight
NCAA tournaments, including back-to-back NCAA championship titles (1997
and 1998), NCAA runners-up (2000) and the Elite Eight (1999) ... With
Butts help, the Lady Vols also became three-time SEC Champions (1998,
1999, 2000) ... Played in 111 contests with three starts ... Three-time
Academic All-SEC selection.
Personal
Full Name: Niya Denise Butts
Birthday: 1/10/78
Hometown: Americus, Ga.
High School: Americus High School
College: Tennessee, 00
Degree: Bachelor of Science degree in social work with a minor in psychology;
Masters degree in education
What They Say About Butts
Pat
Summitt, University of Tennessee Head Coach
Niya
Butts is one of the bright young coaches in the womens collegiate
game. I see this as a tremendous opportunity for her to take over the
reins of her own program at Arizona and to compete in one of the nations
best conferences the Pac 10. I see her taking the same qualities
I saw in her as a player en route to two NCAA Championships doing
all the little things right and applying them as a head coach at
the University of Arizona.
Lin
Dunn, Indiana Fever Head Coach
Wow,
Arizona sure hit the jackpot. The great thing about Niya is that she
has the experience of playing at the championship level and she has
great experience coaching in the SEC. That experience will benefit her
in building Arizona into a national power. I cant think of a better
young coach to take over at Arizona. She is the best of the best.
Matthew
Mitchell, University of Kentucky Head Coach
I am
thrilled for Niya. She is extremely deserving of her position at Arizona.
I have worked with no one in my career that has her unique combination
of skills to excel as a coach. I have no doubt in my mind that she will
turn Arizona into one of the top programs in the country that will last
for many years. She helped take Kentucky from the bottom of the SEC
to being one of the top-four teams in a short period of time, a testament
to her ability to recruit and coach.
Debbie
Antonelli, TV Analyst
I have
watched Niya in practice and during shoot-arounds and she is one of
the most capable and well-prepared young coaches I have seen in the
business. She has the pedigree of a champion and I know she will take
Arizona to new levels. I am excited for Niya, Arizona, and the Pac-10
to get a young, aggressive, innovative coach to challenge the league
quickly. Her hard work during her playing days carried over to the sidelines,
and I believe the future will be bright for the Arizona basketball program.
Mickie
DeMoss, Former Kentucky Head Coach
"Niya
is certainly one of the game's up and coming young coaches in the country.
I've known her since 10th grade when I recruited her as a player to
Tennessee. I had the opportunity to hire her at Kentucky, and she hit
the road running, making a huge difference to that program, notably
in recruiting. She is a driven young lady, very mature and very focused.
Arizona is very fortunate to have her."