Sayonara Salute #19: Pat Summitt

[sanjosefuji]

I follow women's basketball as much as I follow professional lacrosse, but it's hard not to admire what Pat Summitt has done during her 38 seasons at UT.


Last August, Summitt announced that she had been diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer's, but stayed with the team this past season and watched the Lady Vol's finish with a 27-9 record and an Elite Eight appearance.


Unofficially, she had passed the head coaching duties off to longtime assistant coach Holly Warlick earlier this season, but on Wednesday, Summitt officially stepped down from her head coaching position.


Just take a look at a list of her incredible accomplishments:

Head Coaching Record: 1,098 - 208 (most wins in NCAA basketball history)
National Championships: 8 (second to only John Wooden's 10 championships)
Consecutive NCAA Tournament Appearances: 38
Number of NCAA Tournament Missed: 0
Number of Former Players Who Failed to Graduate: 0
Final Four Appearances: 18
SEC Championships: 16
SEC Tournament Titles: 16
NCAA Coach of the Year Awards: 7
Women's Basketball Hall of Fame Member (inducted in 1999)
Naismith Memorial Basketball HOF Coach of the Century
Naismith Memorial Basketball HOF Member (inducted in 2000)
Olympic Gold Medals: 1 (1984/head coach)
Sporting News' 50 Greatest Coaches of All-Time: Ranked #11 (in 2009)
Sports Illustrated's Sportswoman of the Year: 2011 (shared award w/Mike Krzyzewski)

Impressive right? Yesterday marked the end of an era. The fact is... you don't have to be a women's college basketball fan to appreciate Summitt's legacy and contributions to the sport.


Congratulations Mrs. Summitt on your amazing head coaching career! What you have done for the game will be remembered for many years to come. Enjoy your new role at the University of Tennessee, as you continue to recruit and mentor future Lady Vols.


Today's question...

Who are some your favorite female sports figures?

Happy Thursday... and sayonara!



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[bakemeister52]

One of the best basketball coaches of all time. Very great class act. She will be missed.

[jwgreen68]

The best women's basketball coach ever! My fave was Cheryl Burnett. She coached the Southwest Missouri State( now Missouri State) Lady Bears to the Final Four. Two of my favorite players were Melody and Julie Howard(Marsh field Lady Blue Jays). I watched many of their high school games, they had a winning streak of 102 consecutive games! They went on to play at SMSU(MSU) and I think Melody played a season or two in the WNBA.