WASHINGTON -- Longtime college assistant Tasha Butts was hired as the head coach of Georgetown women's basketball team on Tuesday.
Butts replaces James Howard, whose contract was not renewed last month after four consecutive losing seasons at the school.
"I am absolutely honored to be the head coach for Georgetown women's basketball," Butts said. "... It has always been a dream of mine and to be awarded this opportunity to coach at such a prestigious institution, it is beyond any words. I'm elated that I will have the opportunity to mentor, develop and coach these young women.
"... I am super excited about this new journey, it's going to be an amazing ride and we will do this together."
Butts has been at Georgia Tech since April 2019, serving as an associate head coach and an assistant coach. Before that, Butts spent eight seasons at LSU. She also coached worked at UCLA and Duquesne.
"We wish Tasha the very best in her first head coaching opportunity at Georgetown University," Georgia Tech head coach Nell Fortner said in a statement. "We believe she will thrive and are super excited for this opportunity for her. It's been a pleasure working with Tasha, and we wish her nothing but the best."
Butts played college basketball at Tennessee from 2000-04 and played professionally in the WNBA and overseas. Howard went 66-108, a .379 winning percentage, during six years at Georgetown. The team this season went 14-17 and lost in the quarterfinals of the Big East tournament.
She was diagnosed with advanced-stage breast cancer in 2021.
Butts joins Ed Cooley as new basketball coaches at Georgetown; Cooley took over the men's team last month after Patrick Ewing was dismissed.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.