“The first time I saw Pat coaching I was a seventh grader”, Catchings said. She uplifted the women’s game from obscurity to national prominence during her 38-year career at Tennessee.
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Summitt, who died Tuesday morning at age 64, was much more than just their coach. One of them died Tuesday. They appeared together on the magazine’s cover and it’s an experience Krzyzewski cherishes.
Harper joked that some of her former players said she was starting to look like Summitt, and she said some of her old coach was creeping into her interactions with the media.
Summitt’s heart, her legacy and her legendary program is still inspiring. Smith said he “learned a lot” from Summitt’s coaching philoshphy.
Thus began a friendship that would last four decades.
Hatchell said the two were close friends on and off the court.
Summitt was a true Tennessean from beginning to end.
The three worked together during the 1988 Olympics and on various global tournaments with USA Basketball.
“I think when I was young, growing up, that was when she was in her prime so I was a huge Tennessee Lady Vol fan”.
As dominant as Summit was, she was still willing to share her wisdom with the next crop of women’s coaches.
When things spiraled out of control when I was in D.C., having these blackouts and things, coach Summitt was knocking at my door. Therefore, you want to pick her brain.
“I was blessed to have the opportunity to have such an incredible role model and such an fantastic mentor, sister and friend”, she added.
Nevertheless, she enjoyed such an intimate relationship with her players that they called her “Pat”.
While winning all those games and eight NCAA championships, Summitt became renowned as a fierce competitor. Her impact on the world is far greater than the game of basketball.
“It was a great role model for not only other women coaches but for women in general”, Salter said. Men’s, women’s, football, basketball. “Everything about her just brought inspiration to all of us”. Relationships with her family and friends.
Summitt was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2000. Her death prompted many to reflect on what her life meant for the growth of women’s athletics.
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“Seven miscarriages, but we got Tyler”, Pat Summitt said. “Obviously today Geno (Auriemma) has done an unbelievable job at CT but that would not have been without Pat”. “I don’t know how many coaches have made an announcement of dementia that’s still coaching”.
