Pat Summitt steps down as Lady Vols head coach

[Are_grits_groceries]

KNOXVILLE, Tenn (WVLT) -- The University of Tennessee announced today that head women’s basketball coach Pat Summitt, the all-time wins leader among NCAA basketball coaches, has been named head coach emeritus following 38 seasons (1974-2012) and 1,098 victories at Tennessee. Summitt will report to Vice Chancellor and Director of Athletics Dave Hart and will serve in a variety of endeavors. In that capacity, she will continue to serve the women’s basketball program and its coaching staff and as a liaison to the Director of Athletics, remain involved in on-campus recruiting, and serve as a personal mentor to players, including life skills coaching.

Associate head coach Holly Warlick, an assistant on the Tennessee staff for 27 seasons and a three-time All-American as a player for the Lady Vols, has been named Summitt’s successor and will assume head coaching duties for the Tennessee women’s basketball 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,” said Summitt. “I support Holly Warlick being named the next head coach, and 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.
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http://www.volunteertv.com/news/headlines/Pat_Summitt_stepping_down_147954305.html?mobile=yes&device=ipad

Sigh....

Pat Summit deserves considerabe credit for advancing women's basketball and other women's sports. She refused to be taken as a second class coach. Her teams would not be treated as second class groups. Years ago when UT was playing LSU the game went into overtime. The LSU men's coach wanted the women to move their game into a smaller gym so they could start. Pat said NO and they finished where they started.

This is a very sad day.
As for Summit and Geno, they talked at the Final Four and settled whatever old grudges they had. it was a 2 way street between hard-headed, competitive people. Rebecca Lobo said that Summit was always welcoming and kind to UConn players.It's up to him and the other women's coaches to carry on her legacy.

Her impact reaches beyond wins and losses. Every Lady Vol player who has completed her eligibility at Tennessee has graduated, and 74 former players, assistants, graduate assistants, team managers and directors of basketball operations are currently among the coaching ranks at every level of basketball.
http://m.espn.go.com/ncw/story?storyId=7828864


She is one of the greatest!

[joeybee12]

1. I don't think UCONN fans will say anything about a gripe...

And I wish you'd edit your post since to assume they will is offensive.

That said, this really is sad...end of an era. It was clear she really wasn't coaching this last season which itself was sad.

[cindyperry2010]

2. bless you in your struggle pat

[hifiguy]

3. What a career and legacy.

I suspect that she and Geno Auriemma were two coaches cut from very much the same cloth: strong-willed, demanding and disciplined. No wonder they had some beef over the years. Nice to know they buried the hatchet before Coach Summitt retired.

[Go Vols]

4. .

[Cali_Democrat]

5. That's sad

She is a college sports legend.

[bathroommonkey76]

6. 8 NCAA National Championships.

She is the John Wooden of women's basketball.

[KatyMan]

7. Why the Lady Vols?

I always wondered that about sports teams, HS and college. Why not just the Vols, especially since it's a gender neutral name...