Pat Summitt facts for kids
Summitt at The Pentagon on June 6, 2008
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| Biographical details | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Born | June 14, 1952 Clarksville, Tennessee, U.S. |
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| Died | June 28, 2016 (aged 64) Knoxville, Tennessee, U.S. |
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| Playing career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1970–1974 | Tennessee–Martin | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Coaching career (HC unless noted) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1974–2012 | Tennessee | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Head coaching record | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Overall | 1,098–208 (.841) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Accomplishments and honors | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Championships | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 8× NCAA Division I tournament (1987, 1989, 1991, 1996–1998, 2007, 2008)
18× NCAA Regional—Final Four (1982, 1984, 1986–1989, 1991, 1995–1998, 2000, 2002–2008) 16× SEC Tournament (1980, 1985, 1988, 1989, 1992, 1994, 1996, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2010–2012) 16× SEC regular season (1980, 1985, 1990, 1993–1995, 1998, 1999–2004, 2007, 2010, 2011) |
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| Awards | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Presidential Medal of Freedom (2012) Sports Illustrated Sportswoman of the year (2011) John R. Wooden Legends of Coaching Award (2008) Naismith Coach of the 20th Century (2000) 5× Naismith Coach of the Year (1987, 1989, 1994, 1998, 2004) 3× WBCA Coach of the Year (1983, 1995, 1998) AP Coach of the Year (1998) 8× SEC Coach of the Year (1993, 1995, 1998, 2001, 2003, 2004, 2007, 2011) Best Coach/Manager ESPY Award (2008) |
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| Basketball Hall of Fame Inducted in 2000 (profile) |
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| Women's Basketball Hall of Fame | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| FIBA Hall of Fame as player | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Medal record
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Patricia "Pat" Summitt (born Head; June 14, 1952 – June 28, 2016) was an amazing American college basketball coach. She coached the University of Tennessee Lady Vols basketball team for 38 years. She won 1,098 games, which was the most wins in college basketball history when she retired.
Pat Summitt won a silver medal as a player at the 1976 Summer Olympics. Later, in 1984, she coached the U.S. women's basketball team to a gold medal at the Olympics. She led her Lady Vols team to eight NCAA Division I basketball championships. During her long coaching career, her teams never had a losing season and always made it to the NCAA Tournament. She retired at age 59 after being diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease.
Summitt was honored many times for her achievements. She was inducted into the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame in 1999. In 2000, she was named the Naismith Basketball Coach of the Century. Sporting News ranked her as one of the 50 Greatest Coaches of All Time in all sports in 2009. She was the only woman on that list. In 2012, President Barack Obama gave her the Presidential Medal of Freedom. She also received the Arthur Ashe Courage Award in 2012. In 2013, she joined the FIBA Hall of Fame.
Contents
Early Life and Playing Days
Pat Summitt was born Patricia Sue Head on June 14, 1952. Her hometown was Clarksville, Tennessee. People often called her Trish. She had four older brothers and one younger sister.
When Pat was in high school, her family moved so she could play basketball. Her new county, Cheatham County, had a girls' team, but Clarksville did not. She then went to the University of Tennessee at Martin. There, she earned All-American honors as a player. In 1970, there were no sports scholarships for women. So, her parents paid for her college. Her brothers had all received sports scholarships.
As a player, she co-captained the United States women's national basketball team. They won a silver medal at the first women's basketball tournament in the 1976 Summer Olympics. Eight years later, in 1984, she coached the U.S. women's team to an Olympic gold medal. This made her the first U.S. Olympian to win a basketball medal as both a player and a coach.
Pat Summitt's Coaching Career
Starting Out in the 1970s
In 1974, at just 22 years old, Pat Summitt became a graduate assistant at the University of Tennessee. She quickly became the head coach of the Lady Vols when the previous coach left. Women's college basketball was still very new back then. Summitt earned only $250 a month. She even washed the players' uniforms herself! These uniforms were bought with money from a doughnut sale.
She remembered those early days in an interview. "I had to drive the van," she said. "One time, we even slept in the other team's gym." She added, "We played because we loved the game."
Her first game was on December 7, 1974. The Lady Vols lost by one point. Her first win came a month later. The team won the Tennessee College Women's Sports Federation (TCWSF) Eastern District Championship.
In her second season, Summitt led the Lady Vols to a 16–11 record. She also earned her master's degree. In 1978, the Lady Vols beat a strong team, Delta State, by 20 points. This earned Tennessee its first number one ranking. They also reached their first AIAW Final Four, finishing third. Summitt got her 100th win that season. The 1970s ended with the Lady Vols winning the first-ever SEC tournament. They also reached the AIAW Final Four again, finishing second.
Success in the 1980s
The 1980–81 season saw the Lady Vols go 25–6. They made it to the AIAW Final Four for the third year in a row. In 1981–82, the first ever NCAA women's basketball tournament was held. The Lady Vols made it to the Final Four.
In the 1982–83 season, Tennessee won the regular season SEC title. Summitt also celebrated her 200th win. The 1983–84 season saw Tennessee reach the NCAA Final Four again. They made it to the championship game but lost. Summitt earned Coach of the Year honors.
In 1986–87, Tennessee finally won its first national title. They beat Louisiana Tech 67–44. Tonya Edwards was named the Most Outstanding Player. During this season, Summitt also got her 300th win. The next year, the Lady Vols made it to the Final Four again.
In 1988–89, the Lady Vols reached the Final Four for the fourth year in a row. They faced SEC rival Auburn for the national title. Tennessee won its second title in three years with a 76–60 victory. It was Tennessee's best season yet, with 35 wins and only two losses. Summitt reached her 400th win in the 1989–90 season.
Dominance in the 1990s
In 1990–91, Tennessee won its third national title in five years. They beat Virginia 70–67 in overtime. The next season, they didn't make it as far in the tournament. In 1992–93, Tennessee swept the SEC season for the first time.
Early in the 1993–94 season, Summitt got her 500th win. Tennessee won the SEC regular season and tournament titles. The next season, Tennessee returned to the Final Four. They went undefeated in the SEC regular season. However, they lost the national championship game to the undefeated UConn Huskies. This was the start of a big rivalry between Summitt and UConn's coach, Geno Auriemma. After this season, Summitt recruited a great high school player, Chamique Holdsclaw.
In 1995–96, with Holdsclaw and Michelle M. Marciniak, the Lady Vols won the SEC tournament. They made it to the Final Four again. In the semifinals, they beat UConn in overtime. Then, Tennessee won its fourth national title by beating Georgia.
The 1996–97 Lady Vols had a tough regular season. Summitt earned her 600th win. An HBO documentary called A Cinderella Season was made about the team. Despite their struggles, Tennessee surprised everyone in the NCAA tournament. They beat undefeated Connecticut and then won their second straight national championship.
The 1997–98 team was one of Summitt's best. With top players like Chamique Holdsclaw, the Lady Vols had a perfect 39–0 season. They won their third straight national championship. After the game, the opposing coach called Tennessee the "best ever."
The 1998–99 team faced many injuries. They did not win another national title. However, Holdsclaw, Tamika Catchings, and Semeka Randall made history. They were the first three players from one team to be named Kodak All-Americans.
The Lady Vols ended the 1990s with three straight 30-win seasons. They also won three straight SEC titles. They beat UConn in the regular season, giving UConn its only loss that year. In the NCAA tournament, Tennessee reached the title game but lost to UConn. This was the fourth time in six years that these two teams met in the tournament. Summitt also got her 700th win.
At the 2000 ESPY awards, the Lady Vols basketball team was named co-team of the decade. Summitt was named the Naismith Coach of the Century.
New Millennium Successes
In the 2000–01 season, the Lady Vols won another SEC title. They won all 14 SEC games. Summitt earned her 750th win. The team had its fourth straight 30-win season.
In 2001–02, the Lady Vols won their fifth straight SEC championship. They reached the Final Four again. This was Summitt's 13th Final Four appearance, breaking Coach John Wooden's record. She also tied Jody Conradt for the most wins in women's basketball history. However, they lost to UConn in the semifinals. Summitt also reached her 1,000th game as a coach.
During the 2002–03 season, the Lady Vols had their sixth perfect SEC season. They made it to the title game but lost to UConn again. Summitt earned her 800th win, reaching this milestone faster than any other coach. The 2003–04 season was similar. The Lady Vols won all their SEC games but lost to UConn in the championship game for the second year in a row.
In 2004–05, Tennessee finally beat Connecticut in a close game. Candace Parker, a highly talented high school player, joined the Lady Vols. She didn't play that season due to injuries. Tennessee won its first SEC tournament title in four years. In the NCAA tournament, they reached their fourth Final Four in a row. In the second round of the NCAA tournament, Summitt got her 880th win. This broke Dean Smith's record and made her the all-time winningest coach in NCAA basketball history.
By 2005–06, Candace Parker was healthy and playing. Tennessee won its second straight game against Connecticut. They also won the conference tournament for the second year in a row.
In the 2006–07 season, Tennessee beat UConn for the third time in a row. The Lady Vols won the SEC title. In the NCAA tournament, Summitt's team easily made it to the Final Four. They won their seventh national title by beating Rutgers.
The 2007–08 season started with the top-ranked Lady Vols winning many games. The win over Texas was Summitt's 950th. They beat North Carolina in a big rematch. On April 8, 2008, Tennessee won its second consecutive national championship. This was their eighth overall title.
Summitt's 1000th win came on February 5, 2009. The court at Thompson–Boling Arena was named "The Summitt" in her honor. The 2008–09 season ended with a surprise. The Lady Vols lost in the first round of the NCAA tournament. This was the first time they didn't reach the Sweet 16.
Final Years Coaching
In 2011, Summitt announced she had been diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer's disease. Despite this, she finished the 2011–2012 season. Her assistant, Holly Warlick, took on most of the coaching duties. Summitt said, "There's not going to be any pity party." In December 2011, Sports Illustrated named her sportswoman of the year.
On April 18, 2012, Summitt stepped down as head coach. She ended her 38-year coaching career at age 59. Warlick became her successor. Summitt was given the title Head Coach Emeritus. This allowed her to attend practices and help Warlick.
Summitt received the Arthur Ashe Courage Award in 2012. In her speech, she said: "It is time to fight."
USA Basketball Involvement
As a Player
Pat Summitt was part of the U.S. women's basketball team for the 1975 Pan American Games. The team won the gold medal. They beat Brazil in the final game.
As a Coach
Summitt was also the head coach for the USA team in the William Jones Cup competition in Taipei, Taiwan. Her team won all six games and the gold medal.
She was also chosen as the head coach for the USA team at the William Jones Cup in 1984. This team was preparing for the 1984 Olympic Games. They were very strong and won all eight games, taking home the gold medal.
Books by Pat Summitt
Summitt wrote three books with co-author Sally Jenkins:
- Reach for the Summitt: A motivational book and part of her life story.
- Raise the Roof: About the Lady Vols' perfect 1997–1998 season, where they won the NCAA championship.
- Sum It Up: This book covers her life and her experience living with Alzheimer's disease.
Coaching Style and Legacy
Pat Summitt was known as one of the toughest coaches in college basketball. She was famous for her intense look, called "The Summitt Stare," when players made mistakes. However, she said she became calmer later in her career.
Summitt's Lady Vols won 16 Southeastern Conference regular season titles. They also won 16 SEC tournament titles. Her teams made it to every NCAA Tournament from 1982 until she retired. They reached the Sweet 16 almost every year. She also made 18 trips to the Final Four. When she reached her 13th Final Four in 2002, she passed John Wooden for the most Final Four appearances by a coach.
Summitt was named SEC Coach of the Year seven times. She was also NCAA Coach of the Year seven times. She won three national titles in a row from 1996 to 1998. She liked to schedule tough opponents in the regular season. This helped her team get ready for the postseason. Her teams played against Top 10-ranked teams over 250 times.
Pat Summitt ended her coaching career with 1,098 wins. This is one of the highest totals in NCAA Division I basketball history. She won eight NCAA Division I championships as a coach.
In 2012, President Barack Obama gave her the Presidential Medal of Freedom. In 2013, a large bronze statue was put up in her honor at the University of Tennessee. Another statue was dedicated in her hometown of Clarksville, Tennessee, in 2018.
Personal Life
Family
Pat Summitt married Ross Barnes Summitt II in 1980. They had one son, Ross Tyler Summitt, born in 1990. Pat and Ross divorced in 2007.
Tyler Summitt played basketball for the Tennessee men's team. He later became a basketball coach himself.
Health and Passing
In August 2011, Pat Summitt shared that she had been diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer's disease. She retired from coaching in 2012 because of her health.
Summitt started a foundation to raise money for Alzheimer's research. She also worked to help people learn more about the disease.
Pat Summitt passed away on June 28, 2016, at age 64. She left her entire estate to her son, Tyler. After her death, the Pat Summitt Alzheimer’s Clinic opened. It was funded by her Foundation. In 2017, the NCAA created the Pat Summitt Award. This award honors people who have a positive impact on college athletes.
Major Accomplishments and Records
- 1983, 1995, 1998: Russell Athletic/WBCA National Coach of the Year
- 1998: AP College Basketball Coach of the Year
- 1999: Inducted into the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame (first class ever).
- 2000: Inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.
- 2000: Named the Naismith Basketball Coach of the Century.
- 2009: Ranked 11th on Sporting News' list of the 50 greatest coaches of all time.
- 2011: Named Sports Illustrated's Sportswoman of the Year.
- 2011: Inducted into the Tennessee Women's Hall of Fame.
- 2012: Awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Barack Obama.
- 2012: Received the Arthur Ashe Courage Award.
- 2013: Inducted into the FIBA Hall of Fame.
- 16-time SEC Champion (regular season).
- 16-time SEC Tournament Champion.
- 8-time SEC Coach of the Year.
- 7-time NCAA Coach of the Year.
- 8-time NCAA Champion (1987, 1989, 1991, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2007, 2008).
- Every Lady Vol player who finished her time at Tennessee under Summitt graduated with a degree.
- Every Lady Vol player who finished her time at Tennessee under Summitt played in at least one Elite Eight (NCAA tournament quarter-finals).
Images for kids
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Summitt at The Pentagon on June 6, 2008
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Summitt with a subdued look in 2008
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2007–2008 Lady Vols basketball team at the White House with President George W. Bush after they won their second consecutive national championship
See also
In Spanish: Pat Summitt para niños
