For four decades, when a young woman signed up to go play basketball for the University of Tennessee, she didn’t just become a Volunteer — Tennessee’s team identity — she volunteered to give everything she had to build and maintain an unmatched winning tradition. At its apex was Coach Pat Summitt, who won more Division 1 basketball games as a coach than anyone in history. Diagnosed in 2011 with early onset dementia, Summit fought valiantly until this week. She died at age 64.
Summitt’s son Tyler said: “Since 2011, my mother has battled her toughest opponent, early onset dementia, ‘Alzheimer’s Type,’ and she did so with bravely fierce determination just as she did with every opponent she ever faced.” She even coached a year after her diagnosis, winning her 16th national championship in her final year. To learn more about Pat and her illness, visit the Pat Summitt Foundation.
