Pat Summitt, the legendary coach of the University of Tennessee Lady Vols women’s basketball team, died Tuesday of early onset dementia (Alzheimers) at the age of 64.
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Summitt helmed the University of Tennessee’s women’s basketball team as head coach for almost four decades.
Coach Summitt started her 38-year coaching career at Tennessee when she was just 22 years old. She was a wonderful woman that will be truly missed by players, coaches and the state of Tennessee.
“Thinking about the impact and the memories she had on my life really just brought me to tears”, Trenz said.
“To be first, to take those hits first”.
“As I was leaving the locker room, I saw her cry for the first time in my life – and the only time”, Harper said. In 2011 she was named Sports Illustrated’s Sportswoman of the Year and won the Arthur Ashe Courage Award at the 2012 ESPYS. Summitt led her Lady Vols to eight national championship victories to go along with 16 SEC regular-season championships and 16 conference tournament titles.
“She had the eye of the tiger”, Gaters said.
The Sooners played Summitt’s Volunteer teams a number of times over the years, but perhaps the most memorable in Coale’s 20 seasons at the helm of the OU women’s program occurred in 2009 in Courtney Paris’ final season at Oklahoma.
She was just 59 when she learned of her diagnosis. “And most importantly, a strong relationship with her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ”.
Richardson played with Summitt’s son, Tyler Summitt, at Tennessee. Pat’s competitive spirit, discipline and work ethic have challenged, taught, and inspired so many, and the legacy she leaves will forever be a vital part of our game. -Sherri Coale, OU women’s basketball coach. She made a real impression on me and certainly so many others. But Salter won’t only remember her as a memorable coach, he’ll remember her as a woman who proved you could have it all.
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In September, several Walk to End Alzheimer’s events will take place around the Valley to help raise money for caregivers and research to continue to try to find a cure.
