After 38 seasons, 1,098 victories and eight NCAA titles, Pat Summitt has stepped aside as head coach at Tennessee, as the woman who won more games than anyone else in NCAA college basketball history.
Instead of coaching next season Summitt with report to the school’s athletic director to become an adviser to guide the school’s women’s program.
“I’ve loved being the head coach at Tennessee for 38 years, but I recognize that the time has come to move into the future and to step into a new role,” Summitt said.
“I want to help ensure the stability of the program going forward. I would like to emphasize that I fully intend to continue working as head coach emeritus, mentoring and teaching life skills to our players, and I will continue my active role as a spokesperson in the fight against Alzheimer’s through the Pat Summitt Foundation Fund.”
Last August Summitt revealed her diagnosis with dementia, which she exposed had caused her problems with memory loss both on and off the court during the previous season.
Summitt’s longtime assistant Holly Warlick will move into the head coaching position.
One of my favorite quotes that Pat Summitt has made when she was talking about her time as a head coach and a reporter was listing all of her successes and accomplishments, she simply said to the reporter “individual success is a myth, no one succeeds all by herself”.
When we look back over the career and accomplishments that she has had over her 38 seasons, we can’t help but to see success, we feel the inspiration but we also learn a lot about teamwork.
Your J.G.F.,
Marcelle English
