Be sure to check this out:
http://www.govolsxtra.com/special/pat-summitt/
Sunday, April 29, 2012
Thursday, April 26, 2012
Holly Warlick Names Kyra Elzy to Coaching Staff
Tennessee head women's basketball coach Holly Warlick announced today the hiring of her first new staff member as Lady Vol standout Kyra Elzy will be returning to Rocky Top as assistant coach/recruiting coordinator.
Elzy, an associate head coach/recruiting coordinator at the University of Kentucky for the last four years, will fill the role held by former Lady Vol assistant coach Mickie DeMoss who announced on April 2 she was leaving UT to join the WNBA's Indiana Fever.
"I can't begin to tell you how excited I am to have Kyra on our staff," Warlick said. "From the time she was a player on our NCAA title teams in 1997 and 1998, she possessed a coach's mentality on the floor. As I have watched her collegiate coaching career progress, I have become more impressed with her each stop along the way.
"Kyra is a phenomenal recruiter possessing a great coaching mind and will complement Dean (Lockwood) and I perfectly. As a Lady Vol, she knows firsthand what our expectations are at Tennessee," Warlick said.
Elzy just completed her fourth season at Kentucky where she served as the recruiting coordinator and was responsible for coaching the guards of the 2012 SEC Champion Wildcats. This season marked her second as associate head coach after being promoted in August 2010.
"I am humbled, honored and excited for the opportunity to come back to the University of Tennessee as a coach for the Lady Vols," said Elzy.
"First, it was incredible as a student-athlete to be part of the history, tradition and legacy of the Lady Vols during my playing days. Now I am thankful for the privilege and the gift to return to the Tennessee program."
As a student-athlete at Tennessee from 1996-2001, Elzy's game excelled under the nation's all-time winningest coach in Hall of Famer Pat Summitt. A four-year letter winner, who actually spent five seasons in a Lady Vol uniform after missing the 1998-99 season with an injury, she was a member of two national championship teams (1997 and 1998) and a national runner-up squad (2000). During her time in Knoxville, she played in 126 games and earned the Holly Warlick Defensive Player of the Year award in 1997, the Unsung Hero Award in 1998 and the USA Today All-Injury Team that recognized athletes that compete while overcoming medical issues in 2000.
Elzy became just the fifth freshman in Tennessee history to start her first game as a Lady Vol when she started at guard in the 1996-97 season opener against Austin Peay. She also earned another distinction during her playing career, becoming the first UT player to earn her master's degree while still playing.
Also excelling in the classroom, Elzy was named to the 2000 and 2001 SEC All-Academic teams. She was a three-time member of the Lady Vol Academic Honor Roll (over a 3.0 GPA) and earned Tennessee's Dean's List honors each semester while in graduate school. She holds a bachelor's degree in psychology and a master's in cultural studies in education with an emphasis in sports psychology from UT.
While as a coach at Kentucky, Elzy was considered one of the top recruiters in the nation and helped UK sign a top-10 recruiting class three-straight seasons including the signing of four McDonald's High School All-Americans.
She was instrumental in helping UK advance to three consecutive NCAA Tournaments, chart back-to-back-back 20-win seasons, including two NCAA Elite 8 appearances in 2010 (losing to Oklahoma) and 2012 (losing to UConn).
Elzy's guards received SEC recognition this past season as A'dia Mathies was named the SEC Player of the Year and rookie Bria Goss was named the SEC Rookie of the Year.
Under Elzy's tutelage, Mathies received UK's first SEC Freshman of the Year honor in 2010 and was named UK's first freshman All-American since Valerie Still in 1980.
Prior to Kentucky, Elzy spent four years as an assistant coach at Kansas. As the recruiting coordinator, she helped the Jayhawks land its first top 20 signing class in 2007 under head coach Bonnie Henrickson. She also helped KU earn two post-season bids in her four seasons. In 2006-07, KU finished 17-16 overall and advanced to the third round of the WNIT, while guard Danielle McCray was named Big 12 honorable mention.
Elzy also coached at Western Kentucky for two seasons under head coach Mary Taylor Cowles. She coordinated the recruiting efforts for the Lady Toppers and also worked with the guards and handled individual workouts. The Lady Toppers posted 20+ wins in both of her seasons at WKU, and in 2002-03 WKU won the Sun Belt Conference championship and advanced to the NCAA Tournament. Elzy helped coach Sun Belt Player of the Year Shala Reese and Newcomer of the Year Tiffany Porter-Talbert. In 2003-04, WKU was the Sun Belt runner-up and advanced to the quarterfinals of the WNIT.
Before coaching, Elzy spent one year as an administrative assistant under Henrickson at Virginia Tech. She was responsible for team travel, scheduling community service events, and working with the women's basketball summer camps.
Her outstanding prep career earned her induction into the Kentucky Lions Club Hall of Fame in 2009 after a standout prep career at Oldham County High School where she guided the Lady Colonels to four district championships, two regional titles and a state semifinal appearance during her prep career.
Personal
Full Name: Kyra ShaNae Elzy
Birthday: August 17, 1978
Hometown: LaGrange, Ky.
High School: Oldham County High School
College: Tennessee, `01
Degrees: Bachelor's degree in Psychology and Master's degree in cultural studies and education with an emphasis in sports psychology
Coaching Career
2010-12: Associate Head Coach, Kentucky
2008-10: Assistant Coach, Kentucky
2005-08: Assistant Coach, Kansas
2003-04: Assistant Coach, Western Kentucky
2002-03: Administrative Assistant, Virginia Tech
Wednesday, April 25, 2012
Five Lady Vols named to 2012 SEC Academic Honor Roll
Briana Bass – Sport Management
Vicki Baugh – Kinesiology/Sport Psychology (Grad School)
Glory Johnson – Communications/Information (Grad School)
Alicia Manning – Sport Management (Grad School)
Taber Spani – Communication Studies
Summitt to receive Coach Wooden Citizenship Cup
Pat Summitt to be recognized at the 8th Wooden Cup Awards Tonight
Athletes for a Better World will present its 2012 Coach Wooden Citizenship Cup on Wednesday, April 25 in a ceremony held in the Egyptian Ballroom at the Fox Theatre in Atlanta, Ga.
Pat Summitt, the esteemed University of Tennessee Lady Vols' basketball head coach emeritus will be honored as the professional recipient. During her 38-year career, Coach Summitt won more games than any other basketball coach in history (1,098), including a record eight NCAA Championships. More importantly, she is regarded as one of the finest role models in sports and has positively influenced countless athletes and young people.
The Coach Wooden Citizenship Cup is presented to two distinguished people in the field of athletics, one collegiate and one professional, for their character and leadership both on and off the field of competition and their contributions to sport and society.
Five collegiate finalists will be honored and recognized during the ceremony but only one will receive the Coach Wooden Citizenship Cup and will be honored alongside Coach Summitt. The collegiate finalists include:
Tommy Chase - University of Notre Dame - Baseball
Aleca Hughes - Yale University - Ice Hockey
Roddy Jones - Georgia Tech - Football
Josh Nadzam - University of Kentucky - Track and Field
Cody Reichard - Miami University of Ohio - Ice Hockey
Founded by Athletes for a Better World, a non-profit organization committed to changing the culture of American sports, the Coach Wooden Citizenship Cup is open to athletes in all collegiate and professional sports.
John Wooden, who won 10 national championships as basketball coach at UCLA, is regarded as the greatest college coach of all time. Universally regarded as one of the finest human beings in the world of sports, his character, conduct and selfless gifts stand at the highest level by any standard. When Coach Wooden learned about Athletes for a Better World, he gave permission for his name to be associated with the annual award and spoke at the inaugural event in Los Angeles in 2005.
Recipients of the Coach Wooden Citizenship Cup are chosen by a committee chaired by Vincent Dooley, former University of Georgia athletic director, and include more than 100 distinguished individuals involved in athletics across the country.
The Coach Wooden Citizenship Cup is one of the most prestigious awards in sports. Previous professional recipients include Dikembe Mutombo, Mia Hamm, Peyton Manning, John Smoltz, John Lynch, Andrea Jaeger and Cal Ripken Jr.
About Athletes for a Better World: Founded in 1998, Athletes for a Better World (ABW) exists to change the culture of sport by developing individual character, teamwork and civic responsibility through commitment to the Code for Living. ABW's vision is to have the code become a part of every sport at every level. ABW provides free support and resources to coaches and athletes across the country who want to teach and live out these values. ABW's Code for Living can be found on playing fields, locker rooms and athletic facilities across the country. Currently, ABW players and coaches are represented in every state and several foreign countries.
Athletes for a Better World will present its 2012 Coach Wooden Citizenship Cup on Wednesday, April 25 in a ceremony held in the Egyptian Ballroom at the Fox Theatre in Atlanta, Ga.
Pat Summitt, the esteemed University of Tennessee Lady Vols' basketball head coach emeritus will be honored as the professional recipient. During her 38-year career, Coach Summitt won more games than any other basketball coach in history (1,098), including a record eight NCAA Championships. More importantly, she is regarded as one of the finest role models in sports and has positively influenced countless athletes and young people.
The Coach Wooden Citizenship Cup is presented to two distinguished people in the field of athletics, one collegiate and one professional, for their character and leadership both on and off the field of competition and their contributions to sport and society.
Five collegiate finalists will be honored and recognized during the ceremony but only one will receive the Coach Wooden Citizenship Cup and will be honored alongside Coach Summitt. The collegiate finalists include:
Tommy Chase - University of Notre Dame - Baseball
Aleca Hughes - Yale University - Ice Hockey
Roddy Jones - Georgia Tech - Football
Josh Nadzam - University of Kentucky - Track and Field
Cody Reichard - Miami University of Ohio - Ice Hockey
Founded by Athletes for a Better World, a non-profit organization committed to changing the culture of American sports, the Coach Wooden Citizenship Cup is open to athletes in all collegiate and professional sports.
John Wooden, who won 10 national championships as basketball coach at UCLA, is regarded as the greatest college coach of all time. Universally regarded as one of the finest human beings in the world of sports, his character, conduct and selfless gifts stand at the highest level by any standard. When Coach Wooden learned about Athletes for a Better World, he gave permission for his name to be associated with the annual award and spoke at the inaugural event in Los Angeles in 2005.
Recipients of the Coach Wooden Citizenship Cup are chosen by a committee chaired by Vincent Dooley, former University of Georgia athletic director, and include more than 100 distinguished individuals involved in athletics across the country.
The Coach Wooden Citizenship Cup is one of the most prestigious awards in sports. Previous professional recipients include Dikembe Mutombo, Mia Hamm, Peyton Manning, John Smoltz, John Lynch, Andrea Jaeger and Cal Ripken Jr.
About Athletes for a Better World: Founded in 1998, Athletes for a Better World (ABW) exists to change the culture of sport by developing individual character, teamwork and civic responsibility through commitment to the Code for Living. ABW's vision is to have the code become a part of every sport at every level. ABW provides free support and resources to coaches and athletes across the country who want to teach and live out these values. ABW's Code for Living can be found on playing fields, locker rooms and athletic facilities across the country. Currently, ABW players and coaches are represented in every state and several foreign countries.
Pat Summitt a pioneer for women
Pat Summitt won 1,098 games, more than any other college basketball coach. She won eight national titles and an Olympic gold medal. Every single player who spent four years at Tennessee on Summitt's teams graduated with a degree.
The numbers Summitt accumulated during her 38-year career are mind-boggling. The impact she had in transforming women's basketball from a six-on-six intramural game to one with worldwide pro leagues and college arena sellouts is immeasurable.
But Summitt's most lasting influence originates with "The Look." To say her gaze is piercing doesn't do it justice. Her blue eyes could burn holes through steel — or through the uniform of a player who got lazy on one errant pass.
Summitt, 59, began her coaching career in 1974, before there were any female U.S. Supreme Court justices, before "Iron Lady" Margaret Thatcher became prime minister, pre-Hillary Clinton, pre-Oprah Winfrey.
There weren't many tough female role models, or they were demonized as "women's libbers." But here was a leader whose glare was searing, demanding, critical. She wasn't afraid to yell instructions or stomp along the sideline in her high heels.
Her players didn't cower. They could take it. They wanted to win as much as she did. Summitt expected more, always more.
When she began coaching, women were considered too fragile to run the marathon at the Olympics. This summer, women's boxing will make its Olympic debut.
When she started out, young women were expected to sweat in the kitchen, not on the court, and nobody really wanted the $8,900 job of coaching a women's team. When she stepped down Thursday, weakened by early onset Alzheimer's disease, her salary was $1.5 million, and the Tennessee women's program was more successful than the men's.
Just as Billie Jean King made it cool to beat a man, Summitt made it cool to "act like a man," a description that seems ridiculous now. Who would expect girls or women to be any less competitive than boys or men? What father doesn't want his daughter to be aggressive on the field of play?
Summitt knocked down gender barriers that restricted females to acceptable "ladylike" behavior and aspirations.
"How awesome to see a female pumping her fist," said University of Miami coach Katie Meier. "Pat proved that kind of intensity is OK, which was a huge step forward for a lot of girls of my generation."
And for boys, who saw a strong, confident woman in charge.
"We are talking about a society in which there will be no roles other than those chosen or those earned," Gloria Steinem said of her vision of equal rights.
Summitt mastered multi-tasking before the term was invented. She was going into labor when she visited recruit Michelle Marciniak. She decided she could give her sales pitch to the point guard and give birth to son Tyler on the same day, and that she did, gutting out the contractions in Marciniak's living room before rushing to the hospital.
Marciniak repaid that commitment by leading Tennessee to a national title in her senior season.
A 'working mom'
Summitt has been a "working mom" for 22 years — 38 if you count all the mothering she did of her players, including their laundry in the early years.
Summitt was a farm girl who grew up near Clarksville, Tenn., milking cows, harvesting tobacco and playing basketball with her brothers in the hay loft. She learned discipline from her father and compassion from her mother, both of whom worked from sunup to sundown.
What sets Summitt apart is how she tempered that fearsome dragon lady look with devotion and generosity. She cooked for her players, counseled them, clowned with them and insisted they call her Pat. She made them puke at workouts and hugged them in the locker room. She allowed rival coaches to observe her practices. Among many things she did for her peers, she recommended Meier for her first head coaching job. Months later, Summitt approached Meier to ask how it was going.
"I think I can do this," Meier said.
"Well, you better," Summitt said, curling an arm around Meier's shoulder. "Because I have my name on you."
Important legacy
Meier took a few minutes during the team banquet Thursday to announce Summitt's decision to retire and take the title of "head coach emeritus" and talk about her legacy as the 40th anniversary of Title IX approaches.
"I told my players that they wouldn't be here and wouldn't have athletic scholarships without her," Meier said. "What I learned from Pat was that you can either feel challenged or threatened. Which kind of person do you want to be?"
Summitt is a fighter. The disease that has affected her memory, concentration and stamina is another challenge. Her wondrous career as coach might have been cut short, but just as her fire lifted women's sports, her dignity can lift awareness and treatment of dementia and Alzheimer's.
Summitt said she doesn't want a "pity party" as her assistants, former players and rival coaches broke into tears.
She gave them The Look, and they knew she wasn't about to lose this one.
Tuesday, April 24, 2012
Pat Summitt working on memoir with Sally Jenkins
Hall of Fame basketball coach Pat Summitt, who last week announced she was stepping down after 38 years at the University of Tennessee, has a book deal.
The record-setting leader of the Lady Volunteers' basketball team has an agreement with Crown Archetype, an imprint of Random House Inc., for a memoir that is currently untitled. According to Crown, which announced the deal Tuesday, the book will cover her "full life journey," including her diagnosis last year of early-onset dementia, Alzheimer's type. Publication is expected in spring 2013.
Summitt's final record stands at 1,098-208, 16 regular-season Southeastern Conference championships and 16 SEC tournament titles - the last won a month ago.
During her time, Tennessee never failed to reach the NCAA tournament, never received a seed lower than No. 5 and reached 18 Final Fours. Those Final Fours tie the UCLA and North Carolina men for the most all-time by a college basketball program, and she never had a season with a losing record.
"Basketball has always been far more than a game to me: it's a way of being, an ethic, and a value, and so my intention is that this will be more than a sports book," Summit said in a statement.
"Competition got me off the farm and trained me to seek out challenges and to endure setbacks; and in combination with my faith, it sustains me now in my fight with Alzheimer's disease," she wrote. "I look forward to sharing with readers the experiences that shaped me as a mother and a teacher and a leader, and how I've tried to shape the young women who wear the Tennessee Orange. This book provides me with yet another opportunity to do what I love to do most, which is to get up and go to work on an exciting challenge every day."
Summitt, 59, will collaborate on the book with Washington Post columnist Sally Jenkins. The two worked together on the motivational "Reach for the Summit" and on "Raise the Roof," about the Lady Vols' 1997-98 championship. Summitt won more games than anyone else in NCAA college basketball during her years at Tennessee.
Financial terms for the book were not disclosed. Summitt was represented by Robert Barnett, a Washington attorney whose clients include President Barack Obama and Barbra Streisand.
Longtime assistant Holly Warlick will take over for Summitt, who is becoming head coach emeritus. Summitt's new role will include helping with recruiting, watching practice, joining staff meetings, helping coaches analyze practice and games, and advising the Southeastern Conference on women's basketball issues and mentoring players.
Summitt also will work as a spokeswoman in the fight against Alzheimer's.
Monday, April 23, 2012
Alzheimer's Association to Honor Legendary University of Tennessee Lady Vols Head Coach Emeritus Pat Summitt and Son Tyler at National Alzheimer's Dinner
The Alzheimer's Association will present University of Tennessee Women's Basketball Head Coach Emeritus Pat Summitt and her son, Tyler Summitt, with its Sargent and Eunice Shriver Profiles in Dignity Award at the Alzheimer's Association National Dinner on Tuesday, April 24. Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), Representative Mike Burgess, M.D., (R-TX), Colonel Karl E. Friedl, Ph.D. and advocate Garrett Davis will also be honored for their critical work in the fight against Alzheimer's. The evening will be hosted by Meredith Vieira, Special Correspondent for NBC News, whose brother is currently living with Alzheimer's disease.
Leader in the Alzheimer's movement and former first lady of California, Maria Shriver, whose father Sargent Shriver passed away from Alzheimer's, will present the Alzheimer's Association Sargent and Eunice Shriver Profiles in Dignity Award. This honor recognizes an individual, organization or company whose actions have promoted greater understanding of Alzheimer's disease and its effects on diagnosed individuals, families and caregivers. Coach Summitt, the winningest coach in NCAA basketball history, publically shared her diagnosis of early onset, Alzheimer's type, last August at the age of 59. She and her son Tyler Summitt then created The Pat Summitt Foundation Fund, a fund of the Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee, to provide grants to nonprofits like the Alzheimer's Association that raise awareness of the disease, support families and advance research, all while leading the Lady Vols to an impressive 27-9 season.
"Pat Summitt and Tyler Summitt are grateful to be honored at the Alzheimer's Association National Dinner," said Danielle Donehew, Representative of The Pat Summitt Foundation Fund. "We are on the same team as the Alzheimer's Association; we are committed to supporting the millions of Americans impacted by Alzheimer's while we race toward better treatment and an eventual cure."
According to Alzheimer's Association 2012 Alzheimer's Disease Facts & Figures, 5.4 million Americans are currently living with Alzheimer's. Approximately 200,000 of those people are under the age of 65 and living with younger-onset, also known as early onset, Alzheimer's. One of the benefits of early detection of Alzheimer's is the ability to remain active, plan for the future and become an advocate for the cause.
"The Alzheimer's Association applauds Coach Summitt for courageously sharing her diagnosis and helping to raise awareness of the sixth leading cause of death in the U.S.," said Harry Johns, President and CEO of the Alzheimer's Association. "The courage and dignity with which she lives on and off the court will help eliminate the stigma often associated with the disease."
Leader in the Alzheimer's movement and former first lady of California, Maria Shriver, whose father Sargent Shriver passed away from Alzheimer's, will present the Alzheimer's Association Sargent and Eunice Shriver Profiles in Dignity Award. This honor recognizes an individual, organization or company whose actions have promoted greater understanding of Alzheimer's disease and its effects on diagnosed individuals, families and caregivers. Coach Summitt, the winningest coach in NCAA basketball history, publically shared her diagnosis of early onset, Alzheimer's type, last August at the age of 59. She and her son Tyler Summitt then created The Pat Summitt Foundation Fund, a fund of the Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee, to provide grants to nonprofits like the Alzheimer's Association that raise awareness of the disease, support families and advance research, all while leading the Lady Vols to an impressive 27-9 season.
"Pat Summitt and Tyler Summitt are grateful to be honored at the Alzheimer's Association National Dinner," said Danielle Donehew, Representative of The Pat Summitt Foundation Fund. "We are on the same team as the Alzheimer's Association; we are committed to supporting the millions of Americans impacted by Alzheimer's while we race toward better treatment and an eventual cure."
According to Alzheimer's Association 2012 Alzheimer's Disease Facts & Figures, 5.4 million Americans are currently living with Alzheimer's. Approximately 200,000 of those people are under the age of 65 and living with younger-onset, also known as early onset, Alzheimer's. One of the benefits of early detection of Alzheimer's is the ability to remain active, plan for the future and become an advocate for the cause.
"The Alzheimer's Association applauds Coach Summitt for courageously sharing her diagnosis and helping to raise awareness of the sixth leading cause of death in the U.S.," said Harry Johns, President and CEO of the Alzheimer's Association. "The courage and dignity with which she lives on and off the court will help eliminate the stigma often associated with the disease."
NCAA Trophy that Pat Summitt made her own now deserves her name
Click here to read David Climer's column in The Tennessean.
Thursday, April 19, 2012
Pat Summitt stepping aside as Tennessee coach could lead to her raising awareness of Alzheimer's
Click here to read a nice article by Dan Wetzel of Yahoo! Sports.
Summitt: It has been a 'great ride' at Tennessee
SA relaxed and smiling Pat Summitt said it's been a ''great ride'' and it is the right time for her to step down after coaching the Tennessee Lady Vols for nearly four decades.
''It has been a privilege,'' the Hall of Fame coach said Thursday during a press conference. Summitt will become head coach emeritus and longtime assistant Holly Warlick has been promoted to replace her.
''I just felt like it was time for me to step down knowing that Holly was going to be in great hands,'' said Summitt, who revealed on Aug. 23 that she had been diagnosed with early-onset dementia, Alzheimer's type. ''She's a great coach and you know I'm going to continue to support her. You know It's never a good time but you have to find the time that you think is the right time and that is now.''
Summitt, who won more games than anyone else in NCAA college basketball during her 38 years at Tennessee, discussed the decision to step aside on the court named for her after her 1,000th win.
''It was really a great ride for me,'' Summitt said.
The ride on the coaching carousel may be over for Summitt, but there are other challenges and honors ahead.
The White House says later this year Summitt will receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation's highest civilian honor.
President Barack Obama said Summitt is an ''inspiration'' as the coach who has won more games than anyone else in NCAA college basketball history and for her willingness to ''speak so openly and courageously about her battle with Alzheimer's.''
''Obviously, I didn't see it coming, but that's a tremendous honor,'' Summitt said of the Medal of Freedom honor.
In her new role at Tennessee, Summitt will report to athletic director Dave Hart.
''I made a choice early in my career to challenge myself to step up my game each and every day,'' Summitt said. ''You can be sure I will take this same attitude into my new role as head coach emeritus and continue to teach our players the same commitment. I can promise you ladies I'm here for you. Trust me that that will happen.''
The 59-year-old coach revealed Aug. 23 that she had been diagnosed with early onset dementia, Alzheimer's type. Warlick, Summitt's longtime assistant, has been promoted to replace her.
During the press conference, Summitt called Warlick over and handed her a whistle.
''It is now time to turn over my whistle to you,'' said Summitt, who hugged Warlick and the crowed gave them a standing ovation.
''I know this works because I've heard it a lot of times,'' Warlick said, referring to the whistle.
Warlick isn't the only coach on the move. Tyler Summitt, Pat's son, will be an assistant women's coach at Marquette.
''This was her decision and I think that she took time after the season, thought about everything and the thing my mom's always taught me is to put the team before yourself,'' Tyler Summitt said. ''She really felt like this was the best thing for the Lady Vol program. She's still going to be in a mentoring role.''
Also on hand for the news conference were Tennessee football coach Derek Dooley and men's basketball coach Cuonzo Martin.
Summitt tried to show people that it was possible to function even in the face of dementia and Alzheimer's. She had the blessing of Tennessee Chancellor Jimmy Cheek to keep coaching.
She delegated duties to Warlick, the associate head coach who directed the Lady Vols during games and addressed reporters postgame with other assistants taking on much more of the workload in an emotionally draining season that felt like a farewell tour it wound up being.
Yet Summitt's every move was studied to see how she felt, down to how many officials she yelled at or her icy glares at a player while overseeing a Division I program with a busy national travel schedule. After losing to eventual national champ Baylor in a regional final, Warlick's tears during the postgame news conference gave a glimpse of how exhausting the season had been and the possibility it was Summitt's last game.
''It has been a privilege to make an impact on the lives of 161 women who have worn orange,'' Summitt said. ''I am so proud of them the Lady Vols student athletes and the honor to see them graduate and become successful young women.''
Now Summitt can focus on her health and taking on duties that will keep her with the program she guided to eight national titles since taking over in 1974.
Summitt's new role will include helping with recruiting, watching practice, joining staff meetings, helping coaches analyze practice and games, and advising the Southeastern Conference on women's basketball issues and mentoring players. Summitt also will be working as a spokeswoman in the fight against Alzheimer's.
Summitt's final record stands at 1,098-208, 16 regular-season Southeastern Conference championships and 16 SEC tournament titles - the last won a month ago. During her time, Tennessee never failed to reach the NCAA tournament, never received a seed lower than No. 5 and reached 18 Final Fours. Those Final Fours tie the UCLA and North Carolina men for the most all-time by a college basketball program, and she never had a season with a losing record.
''Pat started coaching at a young age and no one will ever pass her on anything that she has done,'' Baylor coach Kim Mulkey said. ''There may be coaches that have more national championships but there will never be anyone who has meant so much to women's basketball. Pat now moves to the next chapter of her life.''
Every Lady Vol player who has completed her eligibility at Tennessee graduated under Summitt, 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.
''It has been a privilege,'' the Hall of Fame coach said Thursday during a press conference. Summitt will become head coach emeritus and longtime assistant Holly Warlick has been promoted to replace her.
''I just felt like it was time for me to step down knowing that Holly was going to be in great hands,'' said Summitt, who revealed on Aug. 23 that she had been diagnosed with early-onset dementia, Alzheimer's type. ''She's a great coach and you know I'm going to continue to support her. You know It's never a good time but you have to find the time that you think is the right time and that is now.''
Summitt, who won more games than anyone else in NCAA college basketball during her 38 years at Tennessee, discussed the decision to step aside on the court named for her after her 1,000th win.
''It was really a great ride for me,'' Summitt said.
The ride on the coaching carousel may be over for Summitt, but there are other challenges and honors ahead.
The White House says later this year Summitt will receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation's highest civilian honor.
President Barack Obama said Summitt is an ''inspiration'' as the coach who has won more games than anyone else in NCAA college basketball history and for her willingness to ''speak so openly and courageously about her battle with Alzheimer's.''
''Obviously, I didn't see it coming, but that's a tremendous honor,'' Summitt said of the Medal of Freedom honor.
In her new role at Tennessee, Summitt will report to athletic director Dave Hart.
''I made a choice early in my career to challenge myself to step up my game each and every day,'' Summitt said. ''You can be sure I will take this same attitude into my new role as head coach emeritus and continue to teach our players the same commitment. I can promise you ladies I'm here for you. Trust me that that will happen.''
The 59-year-old coach revealed Aug. 23 that she had been diagnosed with early onset dementia, Alzheimer's type. Warlick, Summitt's longtime assistant, has been promoted to replace her.
During the press conference, Summitt called Warlick over and handed her a whistle.
''It is now time to turn over my whistle to you,'' said Summitt, who hugged Warlick and the crowed gave them a standing ovation.
''I know this works because I've heard it a lot of times,'' Warlick said, referring to the whistle.
Warlick isn't the only coach on the move. Tyler Summitt, Pat's son, will be an assistant women's coach at Marquette.
''This was her decision and I think that she took time after the season, thought about everything and the thing my mom's always taught me is to put the team before yourself,'' Tyler Summitt said. ''She really felt like this was the best thing for the Lady Vol program. She's still going to be in a mentoring role.''
Also on hand for the news conference were Tennessee football coach Derek Dooley and men's basketball coach Cuonzo Martin.
Summitt tried to show people that it was possible to function even in the face of dementia and Alzheimer's. She had the blessing of Tennessee Chancellor Jimmy Cheek to keep coaching.
She delegated duties to Warlick, the associate head coach who directed the Lady Vols during games and addressed reporters postgame with other assistants taking on much more of the workload in an emotionally draining season that felt like a farewell tour it wound up being.
Yet Summitt's every move was studied to see how she felt, down to how many officials she yelled at or her icy glares at a player while overseeing a Division I program with a busy national travel schedule. After losing to eventual national champ Baylor in a regional final, Warlick's tears during the postgame news conference gave a glimpse of how exhausting the season had been and the possibility it was Summitt's last game.
''It has been a privilege to make an impact on the lives of 161 women who have worn orange,'' Summitt said. ''I am so proud of them the Lady Vols student athletes and the honor to see them graduate and become successful young women.''
Now Summitt can focus on her health and taking on duties that will keep her with the program she guided to eight national titles since taking over in 1974.
Summitt's new role will include helping with recruiting, watching practice, joining staff meetings, helping coaches analyze practice and games, and advising the Southeastern Conference on women's basketball issues and mentoring players. Summitt also will be working as a spokeswoman in the fight against Alzheimer's.
Summitt's final record stands at 1,098-208, 16 regular-season Southeastern Conference championships and 16 SEC tournament titles - the last won a month ago. During her time, Tennessee never failed to reach the NCAA tournament, never received a seed lower than No. 5 and reached 18 Final Fours. Those Final Fours tie the UCLA and North Carolina men for the most all-time by a college basketball program, and she never had a season with a losing record.
''Pat started coaching at a young age and no one will ever pass her on anything that she has done,'' Baylor coach Kim Mulkey said. ''There may be coaches that have more national championships but there will never be anyone who has meant so much to women's basketball. Pat now moves to the next chapter of her life.''
Every Lady Vol player who has completed her eligibility at Tennessee graduated under Summitt, 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.
Wednesday, April 18, 2012
Reaction to Summitt stepping down after 38 seasons
Reaction to Tennessee coach Pat Summitt stepping aside Wednesday after 38 seasons.
___
"Love and s/o to the AMAZING Pat Summitt! What she did for the game will live forever. Changed lives daily. She'll be missed. (hash)gamechanger." — Miami Heat star LeBron James wrote on Twitter.
___
"GREATEST coach ever!!! Stepped down today but never too far. Luv ya Pat! Congrats 2 Holly Warlick. ... — Reigning WNBA MVP and former Lady Vol Tamika Catchings wrote on Twitter.
___
"It was definitely a shock because of the timing. Her legacy will always stand, so far as elevating the women's game and bringing people to our game. I do think it's also a relief for her and everybody involved at UT. She's not leaving and she'll still be a part of Tennessee and a part of the program." — Catchings
___
"The end of an era. It's a huge time to celebrate and show appreciation for what Pat has done for women's basketball and for all of us who are involved in the sport and love it so much ... At the same time, it's a sad situation with her leaving under the circumstances as they are with her health." — Former Texas coach and Hall of Famer Jody Conradt
___
"Words cannot adequately describe the extraordinary career that Pat Summitt has had in the world of basketball. She is a model of class and courage, and I don't think that enough can be said for just how much Pat has accomplished in building and elevating women's basketball to its current heights. Pat is Tennessee Basketball. — Stanford coach Tara VanDerveer
___
"I think it's a sad day for me personally and a sad day for women's basketball. Pat Summitt is the John Wooden of women's basketball whether she's coaching or in the stands watching. She is a legend in the game. A great coach, a great ambassador in the game, and a great mother ... I would like to thank Tyler for sharing his mom with us for all these many years." — Baylor coach Kim Mulkey
___
"She's my mentor, my friend and a part of my family and that will last forever. She has been a pioneer in opening doors for women in so many areas. Those who have played or coached for Coach Summitt always take a part of her with us wherever we go in our respective jobs. I've taken her with me in teaching young ladies to be the very best they can be. Her influence on this game, the University of Tennessee and the Southeastern Conference will always be impactful. That will continue in any role she plays." — LSU coach Nikki Caldwell
___
"Without Pat, I really don't know where women's basketball would be today. The impact she has had on the game itself is immeasurable and her influence on so many people connected with the game has been even greater. Professionally, she has been my example of how not only to win, but to win with class and dignity. I feel blessed to have gotten to know her on a personal level and experience firsthand the loyalty and compassion she shows for the people in her life. "It is a sad day for the game, but I am confident that we will still feel her impact in the game for a long time to come." — Vanderbilt coach Melanie Balcomb
___
"Words can never express adequately how much gratitude I personally have for Coach Summitt. I am living a dream, coaching at Kentucky, because she gave me an opportunity to learn from her many years ago. Jenna and I will continue to support the Pat Summitt Foundation and Coach Summitt's effort to bring awareness to this disease that she is so courageously fighting." — Kentucky women's coach Matthew Mitchell
___
"Pat's impact on our game is more widespread and transcendent than maybe any coach ever. Beyond the years and wins and championships, she personally invested in growing the game of women's basketball. I know that what she did impacted my ability to do what I love, coaching, and there are so many of us that will be forever grateful." — California coach Lindsay Gottlieb
___
"I'll never forget my sophomore year, (at)patsummitt gave our pre-game speech before playing rival Florida... She had me too hype!! (hash)LEGEND" — New England Patriots receiver Donte' Stallworth wrote on Twitter
___
"Pat's vision for the game of women's basketball and her relentless drive pushed the game to a new level and made it possible for the rest of us to accomplish what we did. In her new role, I'm sure she will continue to make significant impacts on the University of Tennessee and on the game of women's basketball as a whole.
"I am thrilled for Holly as this opportunity is well deserved and Pat will be a huge asset to her moving forward. — Connecticut coach Geno Auriemma
___
"Pat Summitt has been everything to the sport of women's basketball — inspiring, focused, prepared, motivating, demanding and consistent. The same things she was to her players. Anyone who has been part of this sport the last 35 years should be grateful to Coach Summitt." — Saint Mary's College coach Paul Thomas
___
"This is a day when all Tennesseans should recognize the wonderful gift that Pat has given the state. She has produced champions on and off the court, and she has brought great recognition to Tennessee. While we are sad to see Pat retire, we will always be grateful for everything she has done for the state and the University of Tennessee. I also want to congratulate Holly for her new role in leading Lady Vols basketball. As she steps into this historic role, she brings her own commitment and tradition of winning, and we look forward to watching her lead the Lady Vols next year." — Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam
___
"Women's college basketball will never be the same without Pat Summitt and women's college basketball would never be what it is today if it weren't for Pat Summitt. It's hard for people outside of Tennessee to understand how much Pat Summitt has become a part of the lives of so many citizens in our state." — U.S. Sen. Lamar Alexander, R-Tenn., on floor of U.S. Senate
___
"She has made an immeasurable impact both on and off the basketball court during her Hall of Fame career. The strength and perseverance that have defined her as a coach, mentor and role model were never more visible than through the incredible courage she displayed this past season. Without question, Pat is one of the strongest people I know. It is no surprise that she has not backed down from a challenge." — Denver quarterback Peyton Manning
___
"Everyone who has coached women's basketball at any time during the past four decades owes an enormous debt of gratitude for what Pat has done for our game. There will be evidence of her efforts for many years to come. On a personal note my thoughts and prayers go out to Pat, to Holly, and to the entire Lady Vol Family. We are a nation of coaches who love and support all of you." — Former Texas Tech coach Marsha Sharp
___
"I am happy for Pat. Her health and well-being are most important to me. She now can focus on doing things for Pat. She has given 38 years to UT and to women's basketball. Now, she can do what's best for herself, every day. I'm happy for my friend, and happy that she can begin a new chapter in her life. She's had such a unique and powerful impact on the women's game — not only on the college level, but on EVERY level. Her legacy will always be revered." — Indiana Fever assistant Mickie DeMoss, Summitt's assistant for 21 years.
___
"Love and s/o to the AMAZING Pat Summitt! What she did for the game will live forever. Changed lives daily. She'll be missed. (hash)gamechanger." — Miami Heat star LeBron James wrote on Twitter.
___
"GREATEST coach ever!!! Stepped down today but never too far. Luv ya Pat! Congrats 2 Holly Warlick. ... — Reigning WNBA MVP and former Lady Vol Tamika Catchings wrote on Twitter.
___
"It was definitely a shock because of the timing. Her legacy will always stand, so far as elevating the women's game and bringing people to our game. I do think it's also a relief for her and everybody involved at UT. She's not leaving and she'll still be a part of Tennessee and a part of the program." — Catchings
___
"The end of an era. It's a huge time to celebrate and show appreciation for what Pat has done for women's basketball and for all of us who are involved in the sport and love it so much ... At the same time, it's a sad situation with her leaving under the circumstances as they are with her health." — Former Texas coach and Hall of Famer Jody Conradt
___
"Words cannot adequately describe the extraordinary career that Pat Summitt has had in the world of basketball. She is a model of class and courage, and I don't think that enough can be said for just how much Pat has accomplished in building and elevating women's basketball to its current heights. Pat is Tennessee Basketball. — Stanford coach Tara VanDerveer
___
"I think it's a sad day for me personally and a sad day for women's basketball. Pat Summitt is the John Wooden of women's basketball whether she's coaching or in the stands watching. She is a legend in the game. A great coach, a great ambassador in the game, and a great mother ... I would like to thank Tyler for sharing his mom with us for all these many years." — Baylor coach Kim Mulkey
___
"She's my mentor, my friend and a part of my family and that will last forever. She has been a pioneer in opening doors for women in so many areas. Those who have played or coached for Coach Summitt always take a part of her with us wherever we go in our respective jobs. I've taken her with me in teaching young ladies to be the very best they can be. Her influence on this game, the University of Tennessee and the Southeastern Conference will always be impactful. That will continue in any role she plays." — LSU coach Nikki Caldwell
___
"Without Pat, I really don't know where women's basketball would be today. The impact she has had on the game itself is immeasurable and her influence on so many people connected with the game has been even greater. Professionally, she has been my example of how not only to win, but to win with class and dignity. I feel blessed to have gotten to know her on a personal level and experience firsthand the loyalty and compassion she shows for the people in her life. "It is a sad day for the game, but I am confident that we will still feel her impact in the game for a long time to come." — Vanderbilt coach Melanie Balcomb
___
"Words can never express adequately how much gratitude I personally have for Coach Summitt. I am living a dream, coaching at Kentucky, because she gave me an opportunity to learn from her many years ago. Jenna and I will continue to support the Pat Summitt Foundation and Coach Summitt's effort to bring awareness to this disease that she is so courageously fighting." — Kentucky women's coach Matthew Mitchell
___
"Pat's impact on our game is more widespread and transcendent than maybe any coach ever. Beyond the years and wins and championships, she personally invested in growing the game of women's basketball. I know that what she did impacted my ability to do what I love, coaching, and there are so many of us that will be forever grateful." — California coach Lindsay Gottlieb
___
"I'll never forget my sophomore year, (at)patsummitt gave our pre-game speech before playing rival Florida... She had me too hype!! (hash)LEGEND" — New England Patriots receiver Donte' Stallworth wrote on Twitter
___
"Pat's vision for the game of women's basketball and her relentless drive pushed the game to a new level and made it possible for the rest of us to accomplish what we did. In her new role, I'm sure she will continue to make significant impacts on the University of Tennessee and on the game of women's basketball as a whole.
"I am thrilled for Holly as this opportunity is well deserved and Pat will be a huge asset to her moving forward. — Connecticut coach Geno Auriemma
___
"Pat Summitt has been everything to the sport of women's basketball — inspiring, focused, prepared, motivating, demanding and consistent. The same things she was to her players. Anyone who has been part of this sport the last 35 years should be grateful to Coach Summitt." — Saint Mary's College coach Paul Thomas
___
"This is a day when all Tennesseans should recognize the wonderful gift that Pat has given the state. She has produced champions on and off the court, and she has brought great recognition to Tennessee. While we are sad to see Pat retire, we will always be grateful for everything she has done for the state and the University of Tennessee. I also want to congratulate Holly for her new role in leading Lady Vols basketball. As she steps into this historic role, she brings her own commitment and tradition of winning, and we look forward to watching her lead the Lady Vols next year." — Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam
___
"Women's college basketball will never be the same without Pat Summitt and women's college basketball would never be what it is today if it weren't for Pat Summitt. It's hard for people outside of Tennessee to understand how much Pat Summitt has become a part of the lives of so many citizens in our state." — U.S. Sen. Lamar Alexander, R-Tenn., on floor of U.S. Senate
___
"She has made an immeasurable impact both on and off the basketball court during her Hall of Fame career. The strength and perseverance that have defined her as a coach, mentor and role model were never more visible than through the incredible courage she displayed this past season. Without question, Pat is one of the strongest people I know. It is no surprise that she has not backed down from a challenge." — Denver quarterback Peyton Manning
___
"Everyone who has coached women's basketball at any time during the past four decades owes an enormous debt of gratitude for what Pat has done for our game. There will be evidence of her efforts for many years to come. On a personal note my thoughts and prayers go out to Pat, to Holly, and to the entire Lady Vol Family. We are a nation of coaches who love and support all of you." — Former Texas Tech coach Marsha Sharp
___
"I am happy for Pat. Her health and well-being are most important to me. She now can focus on doing things for Pat. She has given 38 years to UT and to women's basketball. Now, she can do what's best for herself, every day. I'm happy for my friend, and happy that she can begin a new chapter in her life. She's had such a unique and powerful impact on the women's game — not only on the college level, but on EVERY level. Her legacy will always be revered." — Indiana Fever assistant Mickie DeMoss, Summitt's assistant for 21 years.
Coach Bechler: Why Pat Summitt is the Best
A great blog post about Pat Summitt from Jamy Bechler, the head coach of a high scoring and exciting women's basketball program at NAIA school Martin Methodist College located in Pulaski, TN.
http://coachbechler.blogspot.com/2012/04/why-pat-summitt-is-best.html
http://coachbechler.blogspot.com/2012/04/why-pat-summitt-is-best.html
UT's Pat Summitt Named Head Coach Emeritus
College basketball all-time wins leader won 1,098 games at UT; Warlick named head coach
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.
“If anyone asks, you can find me observing practice or in my office. Coaching is the great passion of my life, and the job to me has always been an opportunity to work with our student-athletes and help them discover what they want. I will continue to make them my passion. I love our players and my fellow coaches, and that’s not going to change.”
The all-time wins leader among college basketball coaches, Summitt finishes her 38-season career at Tennessee with a 1,098-208 record and an .841 winning pct. The Lady Vols won an unparalleled eight national championships under her leadership (1987, 1989, 1991, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2007, and 2008) and played in 13 national championship games. Tennessee also won the SEC Championship and SEC Tournament title 16 times each, and Summitt was named SEC Coach of the Year eight times and NCAA Coach of the Year in seven seasons. Her sixth national championship team, the 1997-98 team, finished a perfect 39-0.
Additionally, the Tennessee women’s basketball team has reached the NCAA Final Four 18 times, tied with the UCLA and North Carolina men for the most all-time by a college basketball program. Summitt’s 18 trips to the Final Four is the most all-time among coaches, and her eight national titles trails only the 10 won by former UCLA coach John Wooden in Division I college basketball. Including the years as a member of the AIAW and four Final Four trips between 1977-81, Tennessee played in a combined 22 Final Fours overall during Summitt’s tenure. The program has appeared in 25 NCAA Regional finals, posting an 18-7 record, and the Lady Vols are 48-1 all-time in NCAA First and Second Round games.
“It is extremely difficult to adequately express what Pat Summitt has meant to the University of Tennessee, the sport of basketball, and the growth of women’s athletics nationally,” said Hart. “She is an icon who does not view herself in that light, and her legacy is well-defined and everlasting. Just like there will never be another John Wooden, there will never be another Pat Summitt. I look forward to continuing to work with her in her new role. She is an inspiration to everyone.
“Holly Warlick has earned the opportunity to be the head women’s basketball coach at the University of Tennessee and to lead the Lady Vol program she has embraced as a player and a coach. I watched Holly grow tremendously as a coach throughout this past season. Under unique circumstances, the job she did away from the glare of the lights and crowds was as impressive as the job she did during game action. At this time in our historic program, which Pat Summitt built from scratch, Holly Warlick, the former player and longtime assistant coach, is deserving of the head coaching position. Her mentor will be available for insight and advice, but this is Holly’s team now.”
Warlick, who recently completed her 27th season as an assistant coach for Tennessee and her 31st overall with the program as a player or coach, is the first head coach of the Lady Vols other than Summitt since 1974, when Margaret Hutson completed a four-year tenure as the leader of the program (1971-74). Named associate head coach before the 2003-04 season, Warlick has been on the Tennessee coaching staff for all eight NCAA titles, and as a player or assistant, she has a role in 949 of Summitt’s 1,098 victories at Tennessee.
“I’m very thankful for all Pat Summitt has done to prepare me for this opportunity,” said Warlick. “She is my coach, mentor, and great friend, and I am honored with the opportunity to continue and add to the great tradition of this program. I’d like to thank Dave Hart, Chancellor Cheek, and the University for having confidence in me to lead the Lady Vol program, and we will work as hard as we possibly can with the goal of hanging more banners in Thompson-Boling Arena.”
Warlick originally joined the Tennessee athletics program as a scholarship 400-meter track athlete and a walk-on to the basketball team. A three-time All-American as a point guard at Tennessee, Warlick led Tennessee to three AIAW Final Fours as a player (1977, 1979, 1980) and held numerous school records upon the completion of her playing career in 1980, including most assists in a season and a game, most steals in a game, and most games in career. Warlick was the first Tennessee athlete, male or female, to have her jersey retired at the end of her career in 1980.
Warlick was inducted the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame in 2001 and the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame in 2004, and in October 2002, she was a member of the second induction class of the University of Tennessee Lady Vol Hall of Fame. She also served two seasons each as an assistant coach at Virginia Tech (1981-83) and Nebraska (1983-85).
Under Summitt’s leadership, Tennessee is the only school to appear in all 32 NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournaments since its inception in 1982, Tennessee has posted more NCAA Tournament victories (112) and has played in more tournament games (135) than any other college basketball program. The Lady Vols have earned a No. 1 seed in the tournament 21 times, including nine consecutive from 1988-96.
Additionally, the Tennessee program has produced 12 Olympians, 21 State Farm All-Americans named to 36 different teams, including 2012 All-American Glory Johnson. Lady Vol players have also received All-SEC accolades on 120 occasions.
Summitt was the head coach of the 1984 U.S. Olympic Basketball team that captured the gold medal in Los Angeles. On Oct. 13, 2000, she was elected to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in her first year of eligibility and was inducted along with former NBA greats Isiah Thomas and Bob McAdoo, high school coach Morgan Wootten and contributors C.M. Newton and Danny Biasone.
Summitt added to a remarkable career of accomplishments and accolades during the 2011-12 season, when she was named Sports Illustrated Sportswoman of the Year, an honor she shared with SI Sportsman of the Year Mike Krzyzewski, the Duke men’s basketball head coach who has won more games all-time than any other coach in men’s college basketball. The NCAA also named Summitt this year’s recipient of the 2012 NCAA President’s Gerald R. Ford Award, which is named after the 38th President of the United States and annually honors an individual who has provided significant leadership as an advocate for intercollegiate athletics over the course of their career.
A 1974 graduate of UT Martin with a degree in physical education, Summitt earned her master’s degree in physical education from UT Knoxville in 1975. Her son, Tyler, was a member of the men’s basketball team who graduates with a degree in communications studies from UT Knoxville this May.
The Pat Summitt File
Career Record: 1,098 wins and 208 losses
Born: June 14, 1951 in Clarksville, Tenn.
Children: Ross Tyler Summitt, born Sept. 21, 1990
Education:
B.S., Physical Education, UT Martin, 1974
M.S., Physical Education, UT Knoxville, 1975
Playing Career:
1970-74 UT Martin
1973 U.S. World University Games Team
1975 Pan American Games Team
1975 World Championship Team
1976 U.S. Olympic Team (co-captain)
Coaching Career:
1974-2012, University of Tennessee Head Coach
1977 U.S. Junior National Team
1979 Pan American Games Team
1979, 1983 World Championships Team
1980 U.S. Olympic Basketball Assistant
1984 U.S. Olympic Basketball Head Coach
HEAD COACH EMERITUS AGREEMENT
Title: Head Coach Emeritus
Duties and Responsibilities
1. Liaison to the Director of Athletics.
2. Advisor to women’s basketball; participate in permissible activities related to women’s basketball (see permissible list).
3. Serve as advisor to the Southeastern Conference on women’s basketball issues.
4. Assist development office and athletics department with men’s and women’s basketball locker room enhancement project and other projects as identified.
5. Serve as mentor to all Tennessee athletic department coaching staffs.
Permissible Basketball Related Activities
Practice and Competition
Observe practice.
Participate in general staff meetings.
Analyze team or opponent video.
Analyze game or practice activities with members of the coaching staff.
Enter the women’s basketball locker room during half-time and after games as long as the team and individual players are not instructed.
Recruiting
Engage in all components of on-campus recruiting in women’s basketball and other sports. Be present at on-campus meals; communicate with recruits and their families.
Send letters, emails or handwritten notes to recruits in women’s basketball and other sports.
Attend official visit meals and functions within 30 miles of campus, including hosting a prospect for a meal at a staff member’s home.
Accompany a coach to airport to bring a prospect to campus for an official visit.
Player Development
Personal mentoring.
Life skills coaching.
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.
“If anyone asks, you can find me observing practice or in my office. Coaching is the great passion of my life, and the job to me has always been an opportunity to work with our student-athletes and help them discover what they want. I will continue to make them my passion. I love our players and my fellow coaches, and that’s not going to change.”
The all-time wins leader among college basketball coaches, Summitt finishes her 38-season career at Tennessee with a 1,098-208 record and an .841 winning pct. The Lady Vols won an unparalleled eight national championships under her leadership (1987, 1989, 1991, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2007, and 2008) and played in 13 national championship games. Tennessee also won the SEC Championship and SEC Tournament title 16 times each, and Summitt was named SEC Coach of the Year eight times and NCAA Coach of the Year in seven seasons. Her sixth national championship team, the 1997-98 team, finished a perfect 39-0.
Additionally, the Tennessee women’s basketball team has reached the NCAA Final Four 18 times, tied with the UCLA and North Carolina men for the most all-time by a college basketball program. Summitt’s 18 trips to the Final Four is the most all-time among coaches, and her eight national titles trails only the 10 won by former UCLA coach John Wooden in Division I college basketball. Including the years as a member of the AIAW and four Final Four trips between 1977-81, Tennessee played in a combined 22 Final Fours overall during Summitt’s tenure. The program has appeared in 25 NCAA Regional finals, posting an 18-7 record, and the Lady Vols are 48-1 all-time in NCAA First and Second Round games.
“It is extremely difficult to adequately express what Pat Summitt has meant to the University of Tennessee, the sport of basketball, and the growth of women’s athletics nationally,” said Hart. “She is an icon who does not view herself in that light, and her legacy is well-defined and everlasting. Just like there will never be another John Wooden, there will never be another Pat Summitt. I look forward to continuing to work with her in her new role. She is an inspiration to everyone.
“Holly Warlick has earned the opportunity to be the head women’s basketball coach at the University of Tennessee and to lead the Lady Vol program she has embraced as a player and a coach. I watched Holly grow tremendously as a coach throughout this past season. Under unique circumstances, the job she did away from the glare of the lights and crowds was as impressive as the job she did during game action. At this time in our historic program, which Pat Summitt built from scratch, Holly Warlick, the former player and longtime assistant coach, is deserving of the head coaching position. Her mentor will be available for insight and advice, but this is Holly’s team now.”
Warlick, who recently completed her 27th season as an assistant coach for Tennessee and her 31st overall with the program as a player or coach, is the first head coach of the Lady Vols other than Summitt since 1974, when Margaret Hutson completed a four-year tenure as the leader of the program (1971-74). Named associate head coach before the 2003-04 season, Warlick has been on the Tennessee coaching staff for all eight NCAA titles, and as a player or assistant, she has a role in 949 of Summitt’s 1,098 victories at Tennessee.
“I’m very thankful for all Pat Summitt has done to prepare me for this opportunity,” said Warlick. “She is my coach, mentor, and great friend, and I am honored with the opportunity to continue and add to the great tradition of this program. I’d like to thank Dave Hart, Chancellor Cheek, and the University for having confidence in me to lead the Lady Vol program, and we will work as hard as we possibly can with the goal of hanging more banners in Thompson-Boling Arena.”
Warlick originally joined the Tennessee athletics program as a scholarship 400-meter track athlete and a walk-on to the basketball team. A three-time All-American as a point guard at Tennessee, Warlick led Tennessee to three AIAW Final Fours as a player (1977, 1979, 1980) and held numerous school records upon the completion of her playing career in 1980, including most assists in a season and a game, most steals in a game, and most games in career. Warlick was the first Tennessee athlete, male or female, to have her jersey retired at the end of her career in 1980.
Warlick was inducted the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame in 2001 and the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame in 2004, and in October 2002, she was a member of the second induction class of the University of Tennessee Lady Vol Hall of Fame. She also served two seasons each as an assistant coach at Virginia Tech (1981-83) and Nebraska (1983-85).
Under Summitt’s leadership, Tennessee is the only school to appear in all 32 NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournaments since its inception in 1982, Tennessee has posted more NCAA Tournament victories (112) and has played in more tournament games (135) than any other college basketball program. The Lady Vols have earned a No. 1 seed in the tournament 21 times, including nine consecutive from 1988-96.
Additionally, the Tennessee program has produced 12 Olympians, 21 State Farm All-Americans named to 36 different teams, including 2012 All-American Glory Johnson. Lady Vol players have also received All-SEC accolades on 120 occasions.
Summitt was the head coach of the 1984 U.S. Olympic Basketball team that captured the gold medal in Los Angeles. On Oct. 13, 2000, she was elected to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in her first year of eligibility and was inducted along with former NBA greats Isiah Thomas and Bob McAdoo, high school coach Morgan Wootten and contributors C.M. Newton and Danny Biasone.
Summitt added to a remarkable career of accomplishments and accolades during the 2011-12 season, when she was named Sports Illustrated Sportswoman of the Year, an honor she shared with SI Sportsman of the Year Mike Krzyzewski, the Duke men’s basketball head coach who has won more games all-time than any other coach in men’s college basketball. The NCAA also named Summitt this year’s recipient of the 2012 NCAA President’s Gerald R. Ford Award, which is named after the 38th President of the United States and annually honors an individual who has provided significant leadership as an advocate for intercollegiate athletics over the course of their career.
A 1974 graduate of UT Martin with a degree in physical education, Summitt earned her master’s degree in physical education from UT Knoxville in 1975. Her son, Tyler, was a member of the men’s basketball team who graduates with a degree in communications studies from UT Knoxville this May.
The Pat Summitt File
Career Record: 1,098 wins and 208 losses
Born: June 14, 1951 in Clarksville, Tenn.
Children: Ross Tyler Summitt, born Sept. 21, 1990
Education:
B.S., Physical Education, UT Martin, 1974
M.S., Physical Education, UT Knoxville, 1975
Playing Career:
1970-74 UT Martin
1973 U.S. World University Games Team
1975 Pan American Games Team
1975 World Championship Team
1976 U.S. Olympic Team (co-captain)
Coaching Career:
1974-2012, University of Tennessee Head Coach
1977 U.S. Junior National Team
1979 Pan American Games Team
1979, 1983 World Championships Team
1980 U.S. Olympic Basketball Assistant
1984 U.S. Olympic Basketball Head Coach
HEAD COACH EMERITUS AGREEMENT
Title: Head Coach Emeritus
Duties and Responsibilities
1. Liaison to the Director of Athletics.
2. Advisor to women’s basketball; participate in permissible activities related to women’s basketball (see permissible list).
3. Serve as advisor to the Southeastern Conference on women’s basketball issues.
4. Assist development office and athletics department with men’s and women’s basketball locker room enhancement project and other projects as identified.
5. Serve as mentor to all Tennessee athletic department coaching staffs.
Permissible Basketball Related Activities
Practice and Competition
Observe practice.
Participate in general staff meetings.
Analyze team or opponent video.
Analyze game or practice activities with members of the coaching staff.
Enter the women’s basketball locker room during half-time and after games as long as the team and individual players are not instructed.
Recruiting
Engage in all components of on-campus recruiting in women’s basketball and other sports. Be present at on-campus meals; communicate with recruits and their families.
Send letters, emails or handwritten notes to recruits in women’s basketball and other sports.
Attend official visit meals and functions within 30 miles of campus, including hosting a prospect for a meal at a staff member’s home.
Accompany a coach to airport to bring a prospect to campus for an official visit.
Player Development
Personal mentoring.
Life skills coaching.
Pat Summitt to step down: legendary Tennessee women’s basketball coach won 1,098 games, 8 NCAA titles
Eight months after disclosing her diagnosis of early-onset Alzheimer’s disease, Pat Summitt was poised Wednesday to announce that she will step aside as the Tennessee women’s basketball coach, making way for longtime assistant Holly Warlick take over the Lady Vols.
The university will make the news official via a press release Wednesday afternoon after Summitt meets with her players in Knoxville, Tenn., to inform them in private. A news conference is expected to follow Thursday.
Summitt, who has won more college basketball game than any man or woman in the sport (1,098), is not retiring but will remain part of Tennessee’s staff, assuming the title “head coach emeritus,” which will give her latitude and flexibility to do as much mentoring with players as her health allows.
But her role will be circumscribed by NCAA rules, which will permit her to watch practice, collaborate on game plans and continue as a motivator, disciplinarian and mentor but will preclude her from actively coaching. Rather than sit on the bench during games, she’ll sit directly behind the Volunteers’ staff, able to consult with Warlick and, no doubt, telegraph her impressions of what’s unfolding on court through her famously piercing glare.
The development brings a measure of stability to an inherently fluid and unknowable situation, with neither Summitt nor her doctors able to predict the course of the disease.
In an exclusive interview with The Washington Post on Wednesday morning, Summitt said the decision to step aside after 38 seasons as Tennessee’s coach was not difficult, particularly given her long and productive association with Warlick, an assistant these last 27 years who shouldered game-day coaching duties last season, when Tennessee went 27-9 and lost to eventual national champion Baylor in a NCAA tournament region final.
“It is what it is,” Summitt said. “And Holly has been doing a lot, and we not only have a great friendship, we understand each other. And we can work through this.”
Warlick, 55, a three-time all-American and former Tennessee point guard, was a member of the coaching staff for all eight NCAA championships won under Summitt.
“She is my coach, mentor and great friend, and I am honored with the opportunity to continue and add to the great tradition of this program,” Warlick said.
Speaking to The Post, Summitt said that she felt good in terms of her health and intended to keep working not just for herself but also for the Lady Vols’ young players (Tennessee is losing five seniors) and for others facing medical challenges.
“I think I can help others just by my example,” she said.
And she intended to make that point when she met with her team on Wednesday.
“I want to talk to them and let them know I’m still going to be there,” Summitt said. “The thing is: I have to keep living and doing what I want to do, and those players mean the world to me. With s having five seniors leaving, I feel obligated in a positive way to be there for the team.”
Summitt’s new role, in which she’ll report to vice chancellor and director of athletics Dave Hart, was negotiated by Robert Barnett of Washington’s Williams and Connolly law firm, her longtime friend and attorney.
“This is just a progression,” Barnett said in an interview. “Pat has been — and will always be — a coach, a mentor and a friend to many. Her title may be different, but her role will be very much the same. She will guide — through instruction and example — players, coaches, the university, her community and, as an advocate, our country.”
Wednesday’s announcement coincided with another major development in the Summitt household. Her son Tyler Summitt, 21, due to graduate from Tennessee this spring after completing his degree in just three years, confirmed that he has accepted an assistant coaching job with Marquette’s women’s basketball team.
Summitt concludes her head coaching career with a 1,098-208 record and an .841 winning percentage. Her teams won the NCAA championship in 1987, 1989, 1991, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2007 and 2008.
The university will make the news official via a press release Wednesday afternoon after Summitt meets with her players in Knoxville, Tenn., to inform them in private. A news conference is expected to follow Thursday.
Summitt, who has won more college basketball game than any man or woman in the sport (1,098), is not retiring but will remain part of Tennessee’s staff, assuming the title “head coach emeritus,” which will give her latitude and flexibility to do as much mentoring with players as her health allows.
But her role will be circumscribed by NCAA rules, which will permit her to watch practice, collaborate on game plans and continue as a motivator, disciplinarian and mentor but will preclude her from actively coaching. Rather than sit on the bench during games, she’ll sit directly behind the Volunteers’ staff, able to consult with Warlick and, no doubt, telegraph her impressions of what’s unfolding on court through her famously piercing glare.
The development brings a measure of stability to an inherently fluid and unknowable situation, with neither Summitt nor her doctors able to predict the course of the disease.
In an exclusive interview with The Washington Post on Wednesday morning, Summitt said the decision to step aside after 38 seasons as Tennessee’s coach was not difficult, particularly given her long and productive association with Warlick, an assistant these last 27 years who shouldered game-day coaching duties last season, when Tennessee went 27-9 and lost to eventual national champion Baylor in a NCAA tournament region final.
“It is what it is,” Summitt said. “And Holly has been doing a lot, and we not only have a great friendship, we understand each other. And we can work through this.”
Warlick, 55, a three-time all-American and former Tennessee point guard, was a member of the coaching staff for all eight NCAA championships won under Summitt.
“She is my coach, mentor and great friend, and I am honored with the opportunity to continue and add to the great tradition of this program,” Warlick said.
Speaking to The Post, Summitt said that she felt good in terms of her health and intended to keep working not just for herself but also for the Lady Vols’ young players (Tennessee is losing five seniors) and for others facing medical challenges.
“I think I can help others just by my example,” she said.
And she intended to make that point when she met with her team on Wednesday.
“I want to talk to them and let them know I’m still going to be there,” Summitt said. “The thing is: I have to keep living and doing what I want to do, and those players mean the world to me. With s having five seniors leaving, I feel obligated in a positive way to be there for the team.”
Summitt’s new role, in which she’ll report to vice chancellor and director of athletics Dave Hart, was negotiated by Robert Barnett of Washington’s Williams and Connolly law firm, her longtime friend and attorney.
“This is just a progression,” Barnett said in an interview. “Pat has been — and will always be — a coach, a mentor and a friend to many. Her title may be different, but her role will be very much the same. She will guide — through instruction and example — players, coaches, the university, her community and, as an advocate, our country.”
Wednesday’s announcement coincided with another major development in the Summitt household. Her son Tyler Summitt, 21, due to graduate from Tennessee this spring after completing his degree in just three years, confirmed that he has accepted an assistant coaching job with Marquette’s women’s basketball team.
Summitt concludes her head coaching career with a 1,098-208 record and an .841 winning percentage. Her teams won the NCAA championship in 1987, 1989, 1991, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2007 and 2008.
Monday, April 16, 2012
WNBA Draft
Have you heard the great news from today's WNBA draft? Shekinna Stricklen was picked 2nd overall to Seattle Storm, Glory Johnson was picked 4th overall to Tulsa Shock, Kelley Cain was picked 7th overall to NY Liberty, and Vicki Baugh was picked 25th overall to join Glory with the Tulsa Shock. Congratulations to all our Lady Vols... Now go out and support them!
Friday, April 06, 2012
Summitt selected as the Tennessean of the Year
Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame president Dr. Bill Emendorfer announced today that University of Tennessee head women's basketball coach Pat Summitt has been chosen to receive the Tennessean of the Year Award.
Summitt will be honored at the 2012 Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame Induction Banquet on May 19 in Nashville, Tenn.
In making the announcement, Emendorfer said, "Pat Summitt is a shining example of why we are proud to be Tennesseans.
"It took great courage for her to step forward and share her medical diagnosis of early onset dementia, Alzheimer's type, with the world last August. It took even greater courage for Pat to continue to coach and put a very real face on this invisible disease.
"No one has made a greater contribution to the state of Tennessee than Pat through her leadership and personal sacrifice for the betterment of society as a whole. She has dedicated herself to a cause that has greater value than her personal accomplishments," said Emendorfer.
This marks the second time that Summitt, a 2003 TSHF Inductee, has been selected as the Tennessean of the Year and the first time it has been awarded to the same person twice. Summitt first received the honor in 1988 which best exemplifies the volunteer sprit of the state of Tennessee.
Summitt has just completed her 38th year at the helm of the Lady Vols and sports a remarkable 1,098-208 overall record. In the 2011-12 season, she helped to lead her team to a 27-9 overall record, an SEC Tournament Championship and a trip to her record 31st NCAA Tournament where the Lady Vols advanced to the Elite 8.
Summitt's life, playing and coaching career and commitment to excellence will also be celebrated at the Tennessean of the Year luncheon. The tribute is part of the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame Induction weekend which starts on Friday, May 18 with a private tailgate at the Vanderbilt-Ole Miss baseball game and concludes with the banquet at the Renaissance Hotel Saturday night, May 19.
Tickets to the luncheon are $40.00 and may be purchased by contacting the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame at 615.202.3996 (Tue-Sat, 10-5 p.m. CDT).
Some of the more notables to have received the award include the first winner Barbara Mandrell (1982), Lamar Alexander (1986), Cybil Shepherd (1993), Vince Gill (1995), Don Sunquist (1996), Philip Bredesen (1997), Peyton Manning (1998), Doug Dickey ( 2000), 101st Airborne Division/Air Assault (2002), Jim Haslam (2006), Hank Williams Jr. (2007), Kenny Chesney (2011 ), and the Tennessee Olympians (1985, 2001, 2005 ).
Summitt will be honored at the 2012 Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame Induction Banquet on May 19 in Nashville, Tenn.
In making the announcement, Emendorfer said, "Pat Summitt is a shining example of why we are proud to be Tennesseans.
"It took great courage for her to step forward and share her medical diagnosis of early onset dementia, Alzheimer's type, with the world last August. It took even greater courage for Pat to continue to coach and put a very real face on this invisible disease.
"No one has made a greater contribution to the state of Tennessee than Pat through her leadership and personal sacrifice for the betterment of society as a whole. She has dedicated herself to a cause that has greater value than her personal accomplishments," said Emendorfer.
This marks the second time that Summitt, a 2003 TSHF Inductee, has been selected as the Tennessean of the Year and the first time it has been awarded to the same person twice. Summitt first received the honor in 1988 which best exemplifies the volunteer sprit of the state of Tennessee.
Summitt has just completed her 38th year at the helm of the Lady Vols and sports a remarkable 1,098-208 overall record. In the 2011-12 season, she helped to lead her team to a 27-9 overall record, an SEC Tournament Championship and a trip to her record 31st NCAA Tournament where the Lady Vols advanced to the Elite 8.
Summitt's life, playing and coaching career and commitment to excellence will also be celebrated at the Tennessean of the Year luncheon. The tribute is part of the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame Induction weekend which starts on Friday, May 18 with a private tailgate at the Vanderbilt-Ole Miss baseball game and concludes with the banquet at the Renaissance Hotel Saturday night, May 19.
Tickets to the luncheon are $40.00 and may be purchased by contacting the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame at 615.202.3996 (Tue-Sat, 10-5 p.m. CDT).
Some of the more notables to have received the award include the first winner Barbara Mandrell (1982), Lamar Alexander (1986), Cybil Shepherd (1993), Vince Gill (1995), Don Sunquist (1996), Philip Bredesen (1997), Peyton Manning (1998), Doug Dickey ( 2000), 101st Airborne Division/Air Assault (2002), Jim Haslam (2006), Hank Williams Jr. (2007), Kenny Chesney (2011 ), and the Tennessee Olympians (1985, 2001, 2005 ).
Wednesday, April 04, 2012
Lady Vols finish season ranked 7th
The Lady Vols finished the season ranked 7th in the USA Today/ESPN Coaches' Poll.
1. Baylor (40-0)
2. Notre Dame (35-4)
3. Stanford (35-2)
4. Connecticut (33-5)
5. Maryland (31-5)
6. Duke (27-6)
7. Tennessee (27-9)
8. Kentucky (28-7)
9. Penn State (26-7)
10. Georgia Tech (26-9)
11. Miami (Fla.) (26-6)
12. Texas A&M (24-11)
13. Wisconsin-Green Bay (31-2)
14. Delaware (31-2)
15. St. John's (24-10)
16. Louisville (23-10)
17. Georgetown (23-9)
18. Purdue (25-9)
19. Gonzaga (28-6)
20. Georgia (22-9)
21. South Carolina (25-10)
22. Ohio State (25-7)
23. St. Bonaventure (31-4)
24. DePaul (23-11)
25. Kansas (21-13)
1. Baylor (40-0)
2. Notre Dame (35-4)
3. Stanford (35-2)
4. Connecticut (33-5)
5. Maryland (31-5)
6. Duke (27-6)
7. Tennessee (27-9)
8. Kentucky (28-7)
9. Penn State (26-7)
10. Georgia Tech (26-9)
11. Miami (Fla.) (26-6)
12. Texas A&M (24-11)
13. Wisconsin-Green Bay (31-2)
14. Delaware (31-2)
15. St. John's (24-10)
16. Louisville (23-10)
17. Georgetown (23-9)
18. Purdue (25-9)
19. Gonzaga (28-6)
20. Georgia (22-9)
21. South Carolina (25-10)
22. Ohio State (25-7)
23. St. Bonaventure (31-4)
24. DePaul (23-11)
25. Kansas (21-13)
Monday, April 02, 2012
Mickie DeMoss leaving Lady Vols for WNBA
University of Tennessee Lady Volunteer head basketball coach Pat Summitt announced today that assistant Mickie DeMoss was leaving her staff to join the WNBA’s Indiana Fever.
“From my perspective, I am so excited for Mickie,” Summitt said. “Coaching at the next level has always been one of her professional aspirations, and the Fever is one of the best teams in the league.
“Obviously, Mickie is not only a great coach but she is a lifelong friend. We will certainly miss her at Tennessee and the contributions she has made during the 20 years she has been a part of our championship program.”
A 35-year veteran at the very height of NCAA women’s basketball and the 2006 SEC Coach of the Year, DeMoss served 20 seasons as an assistant and associate head coach at Tennessee. She spent three seasons as an assistant to Gail Goestenkors at Texas and served four years with record-breaking results as the head coach at Kentucky.
“A few months ago, Indiana Fever head coach Lin Dunn contacted me about an opening on her staff,” DeMoss said. “I was very interested, but I told her my immediate concern was helping Pat and the Lady Vol basketball team.
“When Pat and I talked about the opportunity to coach at the next level, she told me she would support me in whatever decision I chose to make. I’ve been in the game for 35 years and this (the WNBA) is always something I’ve wanted to do.
“The Indiana Fever was a perfect fit, and the opportunity to coach with Lin will present a brand new learning experience for me,” said DeMoss. A participant in six national championships and 12 NCAA Final Four appearances, DeMoss joins returning assistant coach Stephanie White on the Fever bench.
“Mickie is one of the most highly respected basketball people in our business,” said Fever Chief Operating Officer and General Manager Kelly Krauskopf. “She has been at the highest level in the collegiate game and has taught and prepared many of her players to move on and become great WNBA players. She is a winner and a tireless worker. I am very happy that she has chosen to join our franchise.”
DeMoss spent the past two seasons with the Lady Volunteers where she had previously spent 18 years as part of a coaching trio featuring Summitt and Holly Warlick. During a span from 1985-86 to 2002-03, the trio led the Lady Vols to six national titles and 12 trips to the Final Four. DeMoss took the coaching reins at Kentucky for the 2003-04 season and later spent time at Texas before returning to Rocky Top in 2010-11.
"I have known Coach DeMoss for 30 years,” added Dunn who has long-standing ties with the UT program. "She brings to our staff an elite knowledge both offensively and defensively. She has had tremendous experiences with championship teams at Tennessee. I have always been highly impressed with her work ethic, her ability to develop players, her attention to detail and her excellent communication skills. We are thrilled to have her with the Fever!"
During her first 18 seasons at UT, the Lady Vols amassed a 554-77 (.878) overall record. DeMoss was promoted to associate head coach in 2000, but stepped aside three years later to lead her own program.
In four seasons at Kentucky, she guided the Wildcats to a 71-56 record including consecutive 20-win seasons and three postseason appearances (one NCAA and two WNIT).
The 2006 SEC Coach of the Year honor was a first for a UK coach, as she guided the 22-9 Wildcats to the NCAA Tournament for the first time in seven seasons and punctuated the trip with an NCAA win. In 2006-07, Kentucky was 20-14 and advanced to the WNIT. That season, DeMoss' Cats attracted a school record attendance of 5,863 fans per game.
She elected to step aside as head coach at Kentucky in April 2007, but her coaching hiatus ended when she accepted an assistant coaching position at the University of Texas in the summer of 2007. She was the Longhorns' top recruiter while also coaching the post game.
Over the past three decades, DeMoss has cemented a reputation as one of the country’s most elite coaches. A survey of the nation's NCAA Division I women's head basketball coaches tabbed her as the top assistant in the country in 2000. She also garnered that distinction from a 1998 The Women's Basketball Journal poll. While at UT, DeMoss was considered a great technical mind, floor coach and entertainer. Off the court, she was regarded as one of the best recruiters in the college game, year after year recruiting future All-SEC and All-America award-winners, while stockpiling rosters with the kind of players essential to winning national championships.
Some of DeMoss' most notable recruits at Tennessee include: Tonya Edwards, the 1987 Final Four MVP, Dena Head, the 1992 SEC Player of the Year, Chamique Holdsclaw, the 1996 and 1997 Final Four MVP, and Tamika Catchings, a four-time All-American and current star of the Fever. Another DeMoss recruit and All-SEC standout was 2005 SEC Tournament MVP Shyra Ely, an Indianapolis native and current Fever star who joins Catchings in welcoming their former college coach to Indiana.
Noted for her success coaching post players, DeMoss protégés have represented Team USA in every Olympic Games since 1992.
Prior to joining the Tennessee staff in 1985, DeMoss had been an assistant coach at Auburn University (1983-85), a head coach at the University of Florida (1979-83) and an assistant at Memphis State (1977-79). DeMoss received her undergraduate degree in physical education from Louisiana Tech University in 1977, where she starred at point guard. She then received her master's degree in education at Memphis State University in 1979. She is a native of Tallulah, La.
“From my perspective, I am so excited for Mickie,” Summitt said. “Coaching at the next level has always been one of her professional aspirations, and the Fever is one of the best teams in the league.
“Obviously, Mickie is not only a great coach but she is a lifelong friend. We will certainly miss her at Tennessee and the contributions she has made during the 20 years she has been a part of our championship program.”
A 35-year veteran at the very height of NCAA women’s basketball and the 2006 SEC Coach of the Year, DeMoss served 20 seasons as an assistant and associate head coach at Tennessee. She spent three seasons as an assistant to Gail Goestenkors at Texas and served four years with record-breaking results as the head coach at Kentucky.
“A few months ago, Indiana Fever head coach Lin Dunn contacted me about an opening on her staff,” DeMoss said. “I was very interested, but I told her my immediate concern was helping Pat and the Lady Vol basketball team.
“When Pat and I talked about the opportunity to coach at the next level, she told me she would support me in whatever decision I chose to make. I’ve been in the game for 35 years and this (the WNBA) is always something I’ve wanted to do.
“The Indiana Fever was a perfect fit, and the opportunity to coach with Lin will present a brand new learning experience for me,” said DeMoss. A participant in six national championships and 12 NCAA Final Four appearances, DeMoss joins returning assistant coach Stephanie White on the Fever bench.
“Mickie is one of the most highly respected basketball people in our business,” said Fever Chief Operating Officer and General Manager Kelly Krauskopf. “She has been at the highest level in the collegiate game and has taught and prepared many of her players to move on and become great WNBA players. She is a winner and a tireless worker. I am very happy that she has chosen to join our franchise.”
DeMoss spent the past two seasons with the Lady Volunteers where she had previously spent 18 years as part of a coaching trio featuring Summitt and Holly Warlick. During a span from 1985-86 to 2002-03, the trio led the Lady Vols to six national titles and 12 trips to the Final Four. DeMoss took the coaching reins at Kentucky for the 2003-04 season and later spent time at Texas before returning to Rocky Top in 2010-11.
"I have known Coach DeMoss for 30 years,” added Dunn who has long-standing ties with the UT program. "She brings to our staff an elite knowledge both offensively and defensively. She has had tremendous experiences with championship teams at Tennessee. I have always been highly impressed with her work ethic, her ability to develop players, her attention to detail and her excellent communication skills. We are thrilled to have her with the Fever!"
During her first 18 seasons at UT, the Lady Vols amassed a 554-77 (.878) overall record. DeMoss was promoted to associate head coach in 2000, but stepped aside three years later to lead her own program.
In four seasons at Kentucky, she guided the Wildcats to a 71-56 record including consecutive 20-win seasons and three postseason appearances (one NCAA and two WNIT).
The 2006 SEC Coach of the Year honor was a first for a UK coach, as she guided the 22-9 Wildcats to the NCAA Tournament for the first time in seven seasons and punctuated the trip with an NCAA win. In 2006-07, Kentucky was 20-14 and advanced to the WNIT. That season, DeMoss' Cats attracted a school record attendance of 5,863 fans per game.
She elected to step aside as head coach at Kentucky in April 2007, but her coaching hiatus ended when she accepted an assistant coaching position at the University of Texas in the summer of 2007. She was the Longhorns' top recruiter while also coaching the post game.
Over the past three decades, DeMoss has cemented a reputation as one of the country’s most elite coaches. A survey of the nation's NCAA Division I women's head basketball coaches tabbed her as the top assistant in the country in 2000. She also garnered that distinction from a 1998 The Women's Basketball Journal poll. While at UT, DeMoss was considered a great technical mind, floor coach and entertainer. Off the court, she was regarded as one of the best recruiters in the college game, year after year recruiting future All-SEC and All-America award-winners, while stockpiling rosters with the kind of players essential to winning national championships.
Some of DeMoss' most notable recruits at Tennessee include: Tonya Edwards, the 1987 Final Four MVP, Dena Head, the 1992 SEC Player of the Year, Chamique Holdsclaw, the 1996 and 1997 Final Four MVP, and Tamika Catchings, a four-time All-American and current star of the Fever. Another DeMoss recruit and All-SEC standout was 2005 SEC Tournament MVP Shyra Ely, an Indianapolis native and current Fever star who joins Catchings in welcoming their former college coach to Indiana.
Noted for her success coaching post players, DeMoss protégés have represented Team USA in every Olympic Games since 1992.
Prior to joining the Tennessee staff in 1985, DeMoss had been an assistant coach at Auburn University (1983-85), a head coach at the University of Florida (1979-83) and an assistant at Memphis State (1977-79). DeMoss received her undergraduate degree in physical education from Louisiana Tech University in 1977, where she starred at point guard. She then received her master's degree in education at Memphis State University in 1979. She is a native of Tallulah, La.
Sunday, April 01, 2012
An embrace heard around the world
The winningest moment of the women's Final Four has already happened: Summitt and Auriemma meet for a hug.
http://www.theday.com/article/20120401/SPORT01/304019902
http://espn.go.com/womens-college-basketball/blog/_/name/ncwexperts
http://www.theday.com/article/20120401/SPORT01/304019902
http://espn.go.com/womens-college-basketball/blog/_/name/ncwexperts
Glory Johnson named to Coaches All-America team
Lady Vol basketball player Shekinna Glory Johnson was named to the 10-player Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) 2012 State Farm All-America team on Saturday.
Johnson, a Knoxville native, became the 21st Lady Vol to earn a spot on the Coaches All-America Team. Teammate Shekinna Stricklen received those honors last year.
Lady Vol coach Pat Summitt and members of her staff were on hand in Denver for the All-America team announcement. "I am so excited for Glory," Summitt said. "I can't tell you the amount of hard work she has invested in her game throughout her career and particularly this season.
"Glory was an unbelievable player and a tireless worker for us this year. Whatever Glory had to do to improve or help this team, she did each and every day," Summitt said. "It was special for us to be in Denver with her and share in this moment today."
"I am humbled by this selection," Johnson said. "It was just an honor from the beginning to be selected to be a Lady Vol, and now to be named an All-America, it's just even better. Being able to represent Tennessee and the program means so much to me.
"I played with some amazing teammates under a great coaching staff and I am so thankful for what the University of Tennessee afforded me."
Also joining Johnson on the team are: Elana DellaDonne (Delaware), Skylar Diggins (Notre Dame), Brittney Griner (Baylor), Bria Hartley (UConn), Shenise Johnson (Miami), Chiney and Nnemka Ogwumike (Stanford) Odyssey Sims (Baylor) and Alyssa Thomas (Maryland).
Johnson, a Knoxville native, became the 21st Lady Vol to earn a spot on the Coaches All-America Team. Teammate Shekinna Stricklen received those honors last year.
Lady Vol coach Pat Summitt and members of her staff were on hand in Denver for the All-America team announcement. "I am so excited for Glory," Summitt said. "I can't tell you the amount of hard work she has invested in her game throughout her career and particularly this season.
"Glory was an unbelievable player and a tireless worker for us this year. Whatever Glory had to do to improve or help this team, she did each and every day," Summitt said. "It was special for us to be in Denver with her and share in this moment today."
"I am humbled by this selection," Johnson said. "It was just an honor from the beginning to be selected to be a Lady Vol, and now to be named an All-America, it's just even better. Being able to represent Tennessee and the program means so much to me.
"I played with some amazing teammates under a great coaching staff and I am so thankful for what the University of Tennessee afforded me."
Also joining Johnson on the team are: Elana DellaDonne (Delaware), Skylar Diggins (Notre Dame), Brittney Griner (Baylor), Bria Hartley (UConn), Shenise Johnson (Miami), Chiney and Nnemka Ogwumike (Stanford) Odyssey Sims (Baylor) and Alyssa Thomas (Maryland).
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