Pat Summitt spent 38 years as a head coach, was a seven-time NCAA Coach of the Year, an eight-time SEC Coach of the Year and an eight-time NCAA Champion. Her record of 1,098 wins is the most in NCAA history; she was the first NCAA coach with 1,000 wins. In 2011 she was inducted into Tennessee Women’s Hall of Fame, in 2012 she was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Obama and was the recipient of the Arthur Ashe Courage Award. In 2013, she was inducted into the FIBA (International Basketball Federation) Hall of Fame. Pat Summitt is the only person to have two courts named after her, University of Tennessee at Martin and the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. She also has two streets named after her. As well as winning two Olympic medals, one gold in 1984 as the coach of the U.S. Women’s Basketball Team and a silver as a member of the 1976 team.
But she was more then all the awards and honors. She was tough is every aspect of her life, her style of coaching, breaking down barriers for women in basketball and her attitude after she was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s-type dementia. Summitt became the head coach at Tennessee in 1974 (at a time when the NCAA did not formally acknowledge women’s basketball). Her impressive amount of wins, forced a spotlight on women’s basketball. As well as put more importance on other women’s sports. She was considered one of the toughest coaches in college basketball, men’s or women’s, especially known for her ice-cold stare in response to poor playing. On at least two occasions Tennessee asked Summitt to think about coaching the men’s team. For her coaching wasn’t geared for women, but for basketball players. She treated everyone equally regardless of gender, her only goal: making sure each and everyone of her players was becoming the best they can be.
In 2011, Summitt was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. Yet this did not stop her from coaching. Right away, she finished out the 2011-2012 season leading the Lady Vols to the Elite 8. Alzheimer’s takes away a person’s ability to remember events, people and even their own memories. It can be like someone is starting over each and every day. To most, this disease would cause them to give up, but not Pat. She spoke out and made sure others with this disease knew that there was nothing to be afraid of. She (like others) used her fame to spread awareness about Alzheimer’s. She spoke about what she was going through in the only way she knew how: honest and upfront. She even started a foundation in hopes of finding a cure for this disease.
Pat Summitt passed away Tuesday, June 28, 2016, at the age of 64. She inspired, encouraged and was a true fighter. She will always be remembered for what she accomplished in basketball, but also for whom she was as a person.
