Butler hired to lead EMCC Lady Lions
Brandon native and former Mississippi State University basketball player Isaiah Butler has been named head women’s basketball coach at East Mississippi Community College.
The announcement was made Friday by Director of Athletics/Dean of Students Sharon Thompson, who retired from her women’s coaching position following the 2021-22 season after 17 years at the helm to concentrate on her administrative responsibilities.
“We’re excited to have Isaiah lead our women’s basketball program and we look forward to welcoming him into our EMCC family,” she said. “He is meticulous, passionate and dedicated to the well-being and development of student-athletes on and off the court.”
An up-and-coming collegiate basketball coach, Butler comes to EMCC after spending the past four seasons as the associate head women’s basketball coach on Stephanie Murphy’s coaching staff that collectively turned around the program at Coahoma Community College. The Lady Tigers put together a noteworthy composite record of 36-10 during the past two seasons as one of the top teams in the Mississippi Association of Community Colleges Conference.
“It is truly an honor to serve as the new head women’s basketball coach here at East Mississippi Community College, and I am deeply appreciative of the encouragement and support provided to me by the athletic administration during this transition,” Butler expressed. “Coach (Sharon) Thompson has laid a solid foundation for women’s basketball here at EMCC and being afforded the opportunity to continue working alongside her is invaluable for the future of this program.”
While having previously assisted Murphy in all aspects of the day-to-day coaching responsibilities at Coahoma on and off the basketball court, Butler helped instill a winning culture among the CCC players within a program that improved from a seven-win season in 2018-19 to a 21-7 squad this past year that finished as MACCC Tournament runners-up and NJCAA Region 23 Tournament semifinalists.