One of the greatest basketball coaches of all-time is now fighting for her health. University of Tennessee women’s head basketball coach Pat Summitt has been diagnosed with dementia.
Coach Summitt, 59, is preparing for her 38th year as Lady Vols head coach. Her career record is 1,037-196 (.841). She has won eight national championships and an Olympic gold medal.
“I feel better just knowing what I’m dealing with,” she told the Knoxville News Sentinel. “And as far as I’m concerned it’s not going to keep me from living my life, not going to keep me from coaching.”
According to National Center for Biotechnology Information, “dementia is a loss of brain function that occurs with certain diseases. It affects memory, thinking, language, judgment, and behavior.” Alzheimer’s disease is the most common type of dementia.
She has been an inspiration and an icon for girls basketball players around the country. Every one of her former players I have talked to in the WNBA, rave about working with her and blessed to have her as their coach.
Year after year, her team is ranked in the top-25 and a favorite to win an NCAA title. She is women’s basketball at UT and integral in the growth of the sport.
I have met her just once, while at an Indiana Fever game for Inspiring Women night. All the fans were just in awe seated around her. She was very friendly, shaking my hand and saying hi as she walked by.
Pat Summitt’s a strong women and will not let it beat her. She admittedly will rely on her assistants as she delegates even more responsibility. It’s the right thing for Tennessee to let her continue to coach. She needs it, and they need her. I wish her the best…
Dear All –
Throughout my career, I have always made it a point that my life and my basketball program were an open book.
With that in mind, I have something I’d like to share with my Tennessee families — the university, boosters and fans of Lady Vol basketball.
Once last season concluded, I addressed some ongoing concerns regarding my health. After consulting with my local physicians, I decided to visit the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn.
Earlier this summer, the doctors at the Mayo Clinic diagnosed me with early onset dementia (“Alzheimer’s Type”) at the age of 59.
I plan to continue to be your coach. Obviously, I realize I may have some limitations with this condition since there will be some good days and some bad days.
For that reason, I will be relying on my outstanding coaching staff like never before. We have always collaborated on every facet of Lady Vol basketball; and now you will see Holly Warlick, Dean Lockwood and Mickie DeMoss taking on more responsibility as their duties will change significantly.
I love being your coach and the privilege to go to work every day with our outstanding Lady Vol basketball student-athletes. I appreciate the complete support of UT Chancellor Dr. Jimmy Cheek and UT Athletics Director Joan Cronan to continue coaching at the University of Tennessee as long as the good Lord is willing.
I’ve been honest and shared my health concerns with you, and now we’ll move forward to the business at hand… coaching a great group of Lady Vols. For the time being, I hope you will respect my privacy regarding this matter.
Thank you. Go Lady Vols!
Pat Summitt