Clemson parting ways with women's basketball coach Amanda Butler

Clemson has parted ways with women’s basketball coach Amanda Butler after six seasons leading the Tigers program, On3 has learned.

Clemson finished 12-19 (5-13) in 2023-24 and made the NCAA Tournament only once in Butler’s six seasons. She finishes her six years at Clemson with an 81-106 record.

“I thank Amanda for her contributions to our basketball program as head coach for the past six seasons and wish her the best in the future,” Clemson Athletics Director Graham Neff said in a statement. “We are committed to completing a national search for the next leader of the program as the sport continues to grow. We believe that we are resourced and supported in a way to make this one of the top teams in the nation every year.”  

Butler came to Clemson after spending 10 seasons as the head coach at Florida. The Gators reached the NCAA Tournament four times under Butler. She then took a year off to reset and travel around the country working to improve as a coach.

The year off to reset worked in Year 1 as Clemson went 20-13 (9-7), reaching the second round of the NCAA Tournament. It marked the first NCAA Tournament appearance for Clemson in 20 years. Butler was named the ACC Coach of the Year that season.

However, the Tigers have had losing seasons in four of the past five years.

Butler’s contract was scheduled to run through the 2027 season. She will receive a buyout of $200,00 total over the next three years.

The 52-year-old Amanda Butler played at Florida and started her coaching career as an assistant with the Gators in 1994. She eventually worked her way up to Charlotte head coach in 2005.

After two seasons leading the 49ers program, she was hired at Florida in 2007. Butler had an up-and-down run with the Gators, before being let go in 2017.

Butler was Clemson’s seventh head women’s basketball coach in 49 seasons. The Tigers women’s basketball program has made the NCAA Tournament 16 times, reaching the Sweet 16 four times and winning a pair of ACC titles.

Clemson recently completed $63.5 million in upgrades to Littlejohn Coliseum, and recently received Phase I approval for a $40 million expansion and renovation to the team areas. That should make the job an attractive one as Neff searches for the right candidate to lead the program.

Butler did recruit well and there is some talent in Clemson to build around, if the Tigers can keep players from entering the transfer portal.