Chelsey Perry Joins Butler Women’s Basketball Staff as Assistant Coach

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Chelsey Perry has joined the Butler women’s basketball staff as an assistant coach. Head coach Austin Parkinson, entering his fourth season leading the program, announced the hiring.
 
Perry brings significant experience with a professional playing career in addition to recently beginning her coaching journey.
 
“We are thrilled to welcome Chelsey to our coaching staff,” said Parkinson. “She’s had an excellent playing career at the professional level and will do a tremendous job teaching and mentoring our players.”
 
Perry was selected in the third round (26th overall) of the 2021 WNBA Draft by the Indiana Fever, becoming the first player in UT Martin history to be taken in the WNBA Draft while ranking as the highest selection in Ohio Valley Conference history.
 
Perry began her coaching career during the 2024-25 season as a member of the Taylor University staff, working alongside head coach and Butler alum Cassie (Freeman) Wiseman and assistant coach and former Butler student-athlete Rachel McLimore.
 
As a professional player, Perry joined Magnolia Basket Campobasso of the Italian Serie A1 for the 2022-23 season. Perry played with the Rockhampton Cyclones of the NBL1 North in Australia in 2025.
 
Perry played at UT Martin from 2017-21, finishing her career as the Skyhawks’ all-time leader in career blocks (228) and ranking third with 1,963 career points. She was selected as the OVC Player of the Year as both a junior and senior (2020 and 2021). She was twice named to the first-team All-OVC Team in addition to being a second-team All-OVC honoree as a sophomore after earning OVC All-Freshman Team accolades the season before.
 
As a junior, she averaged 23.1 points, 7.0 rebounds, 2.7 blocks, 2.0 assists, and 1.6 steals. She joined the 1,000-point club during the year while ranking first in the NCAA in field goals made, second in total points, and third in points per game and field goal attempts. That season, Perry was named to the WBCA Coaches’ All-American Honorable Mention Team. She was also named UT Martin Bettye Giles Female Athlete of the Year, TSWA Women’s Basketball Player of the Year, and a finalist for the Becky Hammon Mid-Major Player of the Year. In addition to OVC Player of the Year and All-OVC First Team honors, Perry was selected as conference Player of the Week an OVC record eight times.
 
Perry made her senior year another campaign to remember for the Skyhawks. She won the OVC Player of the Year and was named to the All-OVC First Team again while being named to the WNIT Memphis All-Tournament team. She once again received recognition nationally when she was named a semifinalist for the Becky Hammon Mid-Major Player of the Year and also to the Katrina McClain Award Midseason Top 10 List. 
 
Perry was named a TSWA Class A All-State Honoree twice while at Middleton High in Tennessee. As a sophomore, she led the Lady Tigers to a 35–0 record on their way to a State Championship. She was part of a Lady Tiger team that won 67 straight games!