AMERICUS — When the Title IX law passed on June 23, 1972, many of the barriers preventing women from excelling in all areas of federally funded programs and activities fell. The Title IX law was passed to prevent discrimination based on sex in these programs and give women an equal opportunity to participate in the same federally funded activities as their male counterparts. Although Title IX was not directly aimed at sports, it has had a huge effect on recreation, high school and college sports throughout the country. Title IX has affected millions of women across the United States, and few women know the benefits of the law as well as Americus native Niya Butts.

 Butts was born and raised in Americus, Georgia, and as a young girl she participated in numerous sports. Whether it was track or basketball, Butts was always a standout athlete and her reputation carried over into her high school career. Butts attended Americus High school, where she became the school’s leading scorer and rebounder for head coach Evelyn Wright. She was an All-Region selection, and played nearly every position for Coach Wright in high school.

 Many college programs also took notice of Butts’ amazing high school career and her natural athletic ability. Upon graduating from Americus High School, Butts signed to play basketball at the University of Tennessee for one of the most prestigious coaches in the history of basketball, Pat Summitt. At Tennessee, Butts’ proved that she belonged on the best team in the nation by becoming a four-year letter winner for the Lady Vols. Butts helped lead the Lady Vols to the 1997 and 1998 national championships with her smothering defense and impressive versatility. Butts was also a part of three SEC championships in 1998, 1999, and 2000, as well as being voted the SEC Defensive Player of the Year in 1997.

 Following her extremely impressive playing career, Butts decided to stay in the game she loved by pursuing a coaching career.  After graduating from Tennessee in 2000 with a bachelor's degree in social work with a minor in psychology, Butts enrolled at Tennessee Tech where she began her coaching career as an assistant coach, while pursuing a master's degree in education. At Tennessee Tech, Butts helped lead the Golden Eagles to two Ohio Valley Conference regular-season championships in both 2001 and 2002.

 After graduating from Tennessee Tech with her master’s degree, Butts moved north to become an assistant coach for the Michigan State Lady Spartans. There, Butts helped lead the team to their first NCAA Tournament appearance since 1997 following a 17-11 2002-2003 season. After Michigan State it was on to Lexington where she took an assistant coaching position under head coach Mickie DeMoss at the University of Kentucky. Butts spent five years as an assistant coach at Kentucky before being promoted in her final year to associate coach and recruiting coordinator. While at Kentucky, Butts helped the Lady Wildcats finish with an 88-72 record overall, while also cementing her name in the conversation of great young college coaches.

 Butts quickly became one of the most sought after young coaches in America, and on April 3, 2008 she was hired by the University of Arizona to lead the Lady Wildcats basketball program. "Exciting things are happening in women's basketball here at the University of Arizona," Butts told the Arizona media department. "It's an honor and a privilege to coach this team and be part of this team.”

 In her first head coaching job at Arizona Butts has already taken the program to new heights. Butts, who also became the school’s first African American female head coach, led the program to their most successful season in five years this past season. She has seen continuous improvement every year at Arizona, winning 12 games in 2008-09, 14 games in 2009-10, and 21 games in 2010-11. The Lady Wildcats have also improved their number Conference wins every year from four wins in 2008-09, to six wins in 2009-10, to 10 wins in 2010-11. In 2011 Butts led The Wildcats to their first postseason appearance since the 2004-05 season and their first appearance in the Women's NIT since the 2000-01 season.

 Butts has drawn praise from across the country for her hard work and dedication both on and off of the court. This young energetic coach has been repeatedly referred to as one of the most talented young coaches in her game and she has proven everyone right with her success at Arizona. Still, after all of the success on the court as a player and a coach, Butts knows that one very big moment that happened 40 years ago made all of this possible.

 “Title IX gave me a lot of opportunities that I probably would not have had before,” said Butts. “It gave me the opportunity to be doing what I love now.” Butts realizes that without Title IX women’s athletics would still be put behind men’s athletics, just as they were before 1972. She knows that the Title IX law has been successful for her, and it has made a huge difference in the entire country as well. “Although it is hard for me to say the exact impact because I don’t have the statistics on it, Title IX has been a big help to women’s athletics, and it continues helping today,” she said.

 Title IX has given Butts the opportunity to lead a major NCAA Division I college program, and she could not be happier with the situation that the law has allowed her to be in. “I love it here. The people are amazing and I get support from everyone,” Butts said of her location and job.

 When asked what she would say to young ladies to inspire them to be successful in their athletic and academic pursuits, Butts gave a simple answer with a strong message. “It is simply put. These young women need to do what they have to do now, so they can do what they want to do later,” she said. “They need to work very hard and be respectful, because respect can get you a long way.”

 Title Butts knows that Title IX has been the driving factor behind women having equality in sports. The law passed 40 years ago gave her the opportunity to prove her value as both a player and a coach, something that would have been unheard of prior to this legislation. Title IX is one of the most important laws ever passed, and it has made thousands of women’s dreams come true across America, from Americus, Ga. to Tucson, Az.