Former Butler standout Abby Fawcett is now in her 12th season as an assistant coach with the women's basketball program. In addition to her recruiting duties, Fawcett is in charge of day-to-day operations and oversees perimeter play.

In the 2020-2021 season, Fawcett helped guide Butler to a 20-4 overall record and coached two NJCAA All-Americans. Fawcett also assisted in the Grizzlies winning their 3rd consecutive Jayhawk East conference title and making their 3rd consecutive appearance in the NJCAA National Tournament.

Butler went back-to-back as KJCCC East Champions as well as Region VI Champions during the 2019-20 season. They earned the program's third trip to the NJCAA Div. I Women's Basketball National Tournament but the tournament was canceled in late March due to COVID-19. The Grizzlies got the #15 seed and were slated to play #18 Salt Lake Community College. We will never know the final outcome of the 2019-20 season but the Grizzlies had a year for the books. Butler finished the year 25-8 overall and went 15-5 in the KJCCC East. Freshman Tamara Nard was a 1st Team All-Conference player for the Grizzlies and was awarded 'Freshman of the Year' in the KJCCC. She was also named an NJCAA All-American, the fifth player to earn this prestigious award under head coach Mike Helmer. Nard was also voted to the WBCA All-Star Team. Camille Downs was also a First Team All-KJCCC recipient and RaVon Nero picked up Second Team honors. The Grizzlies had four NJCAA All-Academic students and finished with a 3.27 team GPA.

The 2018-2019 season was another record-breaking year for Butler. The Grizzlies went 28-5 which marked the third most season wins in school history becoming the outright Jayhawk East champions, concluding their perfect 14-0 home record. For the first time in school history, they became Region VI basketball champions, claiming their first postseason title by holding off No. 2-ranked Seward County 62-54. The Grizzlies' second-ever appearance in the NJCAA women's national tournament came to an end with a narrow 51-50 loss to Northwest Florida. Kyla Callins was named to the NJCAA Division I Women's Basketball All-American team on Monday, becoming the fourth Grizzly in the program's history to earn the honor.  

In 2017-2018, the Grizzlies went 21-10 in the rugged Jayhawk Conference, going 17-9 in league play and winning a first-round Region VI playoff game. Ericka Mattingly was named an NJCAA All-American.

The 2016-2017 season turned out to be another great one as the Grizzlies finished the year at 24-7 and made it to the second round of the Region VI tournament for the seventh straight year. Coach Fawcett also coached four all-conference players that year. Dakota Vann was selected to first-team all-conference, while Kendriana Washington, Kyeria Hannah, and Raven Prince all received second-team honors! 

The 2015-2016 was another successful season for the Grizzlies. For the eighth straight year under Coach Helmer, the Grizzlies reached the Region VI playoffs and for the Fifth year in a row advanced to at least the second round to compete at Wichita State. The Grizzlies finished with a record of 24-8 and a second-place finish in the Jayhawk Western Conference.  Tamara Lee and Kyeria Hannah were also named to the All-Conference teams.

The 2014-15 Grizzly squad finished the season 24-7, ranking as high as No. 9 in the country. Butler finished second in the Jayhawk’s West Conference and Sophomore Ashley Gibson was named Honorable Mention All-American, just the second All-American in program history.  

The 2013-14 season was a record-breaking year in almost every phase of the Grizzly program as Butler finished 34-3, capturing the 2014 Jayhawk East Conference Championship in undefeated fashion (12-0), making the program’s first-ever trip to the NJCAA National Tournament and advancing to the Elite 8 with a final national ranking of No. 6. The 2014-15 season also saw the Grizzlies produce the first-ever NJCAA All-American in Te’era Williams. In addition, three Grizzlies received All-Conference honors. The off-the-court production was equally as impressive as the Grizzlies posted a 3.4 team GPA.

In her first season after making the transition from All-American to collegiate coach, the 2012-2013 season proved to be a great start for Fawcett in her coaching career. The Grizzlies finished the season at 26-7 and broke a number of team and individual school records. The Grizzlies went 12-4 in the rugged Jayhawk West and went 15-1 at home inside the Power Plant. Two players off that team were named All-Jayhawk West Conference and All-Region VI as well as having three players named to the Region VI All-Tournament team.

Fawcett is 187-43 overall as an assistant coach at Butler. She has added three conference championships, two Region VI titles, and three trips to the NJCAA National Tournament. She has mentored four All-Americans adding to her list of accomplishments. Fawcett has helped groom NJCAA Coaches Association All-Stars in Ashlee Ivy, Ashley Gibson, and Tamara Nard. 

“Abby’s work ethic and character are two things that separated her as a player and will helper her climb the ladder in the coaching profession,” said Head coach Mike Helmer. “Coach Fawcett is another example of how family orientated we are here by coming back here to begin her coaching career. She loves this program and will be a great asset to us moving forward.”

Fawcett graduated from Wichita State University with a degree in General Studies with an emphasis in Communication in 2013.

Prior to coming to back to Butler, Fawcett finished her playing career at Friends University where she led her team to the NAIA national tournament and the sweet 16 for the first time in school history. Fawcett also ended her career at Friends University as an All-American.

Prior to Friends University, Fawcett began her collegiate playing career at Butler Community College where she graduated and enjoyed much success both on and off the court. When Fawcett ended her career at Butler, she amassed 991 points (second all-time) and 175 steals (second all-time) and holds school records in charges drawn (38) and free-throw percentage (80.5). For her efforts, Fawcett was a two-time All-Jayhawk West and All-Region VI selection(2010  and 2011), was invited to the NJCAA Top 40 All-Star event in 2010, and was named to the Academic All-Conference Team (2010-2011).

UPDATED: OCTOBER 2021