Florida basketball coach ruptures Achilles’ tendon

Posted Oct 26, 2009 by TBO.com

Updated Oct 26, 2009 at 06:11 PM

Florida’s Amanda Butler will spend part of this season coaching on crutches.

Butler, who led the Gators to the NCAA tournament last season in her third season, ruptured her left Achilles’ tendon playing flag football Saturday. She had surgery Monday.

Butler, a four-year starter at Florida between 1990 and 1994, was the first woman in college basketball to wear a clear, protective face mask. She donned the mask in February 1993 following a badly broken nose, so assistant coach Susie Gardner says pacing the sideline in a protective boot and crutches won’t be too much of a distraction for Butler.

Although Gardner says Butler “needs to work” on her ability to get around on crutches, she adds that Butler’s biggest challenge will be finding a way for the boot to match her stylish wardrobe.
- AP