Summitt enjoys chance to coach son

Lady Vols leader heads up AAU team in national event

CLARKSVILLE, TN — In some of the darker days surrounding the men's basketball program at Tennessee, there was an occasional whisper about asking Pat Summitt if she could do something to resurrect the program.

A list of promising coaches who failed to deliver had Vol fans wondering if the woman responsible for fostering the development of women's basketball could do the same for the Vols.

Summitt was never asked to coach a men's basketball team, not that she couldn't, or wouldn't be interested, and Tennessee fans couldn't be any happier.

The Lady Vols won their seventh national title under Summitt's guidance this past season, and the legendary coach could surpass 1,000 career wins in the next two seasons.

For every achievement credited to Summitt, there was still the idea of coaching a men's basketball team. That, however, became reality when her son Tyler approached her back in May about coaching his team.

It's hard for a mom to turn down a son's request.

Summitt will coach the Tennessee Heat in the Under 16 AAU National Basketball Tournament, beginning today at seven sites around Clarksville.

"I grew up with three older brothers, all that are here tonight, and it's just playing basketball," said Summitt, who spoke at the Clarksville Country Club Thursday evening, along with former Vol Dane Bradshaw, who is touring the state to promote his book 'Vertical Leap.' "It's teaching people. Could I coach a men's team? Yes. Do I have a desire to coach a men's team at the college level? No.

"I think my passion has always been coaching women's basketball and making a difference in the women's game. We had to grow by leaps and bounds and the men's game — it has been established for so many years. To be able to, in some small way, be able to make a difference is big for me."

Summitt is the second renowned women's college basketball personality to coach their son's AAU team in a national basketball tournament in Clarksville. Connecticut coach Geno Auriemma coached his son Michael and the Connecticut Nike Elite three years ago.

"At the time when he (Auriemma) was doing it, I thought that was really neat, but I never thought about doing it myself," Summitt said. "I never thought about being asked by my son."

Coaching Tyler and the Heat wouldn't have been a reality without Summitt's coaching staff. The AAU national tournament, along with some of the qualifying tournaments, fell right into the heart of recruiting season.

"I talked to my staff about it, and I told them if I can coach Tyler, that's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and I would love to do it," Summitt said. "I talked to some of the parents to make sure they were comfortable with it and everyone was like 'Yes, that would be great,' so we started meeting and practicing. I've had a great time with it."

Being the point guard for your mom's team doesn't entitle you to any preferential treatment.

"At that time, he's my player, he's my point guard and I'm coaching him just like all of the guys on his team," Summitt said. "I'm not going to alter my coaching style because its my son or because of the team he plays on."

Two years ago, Clarksville was the host site for the Under 15 national tournament, a venue that was deep in college prospects, including Derrick Rose, Nicholas Calathes, Damian Saunder, Jon Diebler, Maurice Miller and Nate Miles.

Summitt knows what's in store for the Heat, a team made of players mostly from Knoxville Webb, along with a few other Knoxville schools.

"We know we are going to play against guys that probably could go straight to the pros," Summitt said.

Returning to Clarksville is always special for Summitt, who grew up on the family farm near the Cheatham-Montgomery County line. This trip is more significant with the Lady Vols coming off their first national title in nine seasons. Tennessee finished 34-3, beating Rutgers 59-46 in the national title game.

"I think it was really very special for a lot of reasons. One, for our fans, they've been so loyal and stayed in there," Summitt said. "We've been so close, but hadn't been able to cut down the nets in nine years."

This season, the Lady Vols featured the nation's top player in center Candace Parker, along with a supporting cast that equaled some of Summitt's other national title teams.

"Having a go-to player like Candace Parker, and having a Nicky Anosike, who did the dirty work on the boards. Alexis Hornbuckle, who did not shoot the ball well in postseason, but provided great leadership and great defensive intensity," Summitt said. "People brought what they did best at the right time."

IF YOU GO

* The Tennessee Heat will play two games today, one Saturday:

Game 1

When: 1:30 p.m., today.
Teams: Tennessee Heat vs. Indiana SYF Players.
Where: APSU Dunn Center

Game 2

When: 7:30 p.m., today.
Teams: Tennessee Heat vs. West Virginia Rush.
Where: Rossview High School.

Game 3

Teams: Tennessee Heat vs. NE Maine Tide of Maine.
When: 1:30 p.m., Saturday.
Where: Rossview High School