The University of Tennessee and the world of women’s basketball received some shocking news on Tuesday.
Pat Summitt, the legendary coach of the Lady Volunteers and perhaps the most recognizable face in women’s basketball, confirmed she has been diagnosed with early onset dementia, Alzheimer’s type.
Summitt underwent a series of tests at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., in May and later learned the news.
"There's not going to be any pity party and I'll make sure of that," Summitt told the Knoxville News Sentinel.
The 59-year-old is planning to coach her 38th season with the program that she’s led to 1,071 victories, the most of any college basketball coach, men's or women's, and eight national titles. She also has the support from the University's administration to do so.
Pat is an incredible woman. I've never seen a coach garner such universal respect and admiration, and from what I hear, she's a better person than she is a coach. That says a lot.
Tennessee has been through a lot recently, but throughout all the turmoil it was always reassuring to have the stability and integrity that have constantly defined Pat's career. I know many people don't care for women's basketball, but she is definitely a legend.
I'll make it a point to attend a few home games this upcoming season. It would be extremely fitting to send Coach Summitt out on top, and it appears her team will have more motivation than ever before.
I'm surprised she's only 59. I thought she was much older just based on her career achievements. She's always seemed like a class act and a good coach. Getting alzheimer's at such a young age would be especially rough since she's likely to live quite a long time with it. Hopefully she can find an effective treatment and I'd like to see her beat Geno one more time before she has to retire.
My Mother has also been diagnosed with Dementia, but she is 78. I find it hard to believe there are 12 different kinds of dementia. Tenn womens basketball has always had my respect...
When my wife heard the news she immediately mentioned what a classy woman Pat Summitt is, even though she isn't a sports fan, and has probably never watched a Lady Vols game in her life.
I had this weird thought the other morning. I was talking to my fiance and said to her, wouldn't it be messed up to have a wonderful life yet wake up one day with no memory of it at all. Then I realized it wasn't that weird at all since that is pretty much what happens with dementia and Alzheimers. Yikes
My best to Ms Summitt. I believe she divorced fairly recently. I hope she has people to comfort her along her way.
Pat is a very gracious and kind person. She did the commencement speech at my high school graduation. Great great lady.
And kind of funny story regarding that...she roomed with a friend of mine's mom in college, which is how we were able to get her to speak. Anyway, I almost hit her with my car as she was out jogging on a narrow road...had to swurve to miss her. I was cussing her up a storm.........until I realized who it was...it was then that I tucked my tail between my legs and sped out of there.
So that was my brush with greatness. Luckily she didn't see me because I'm sure I would have been the butt of a joke at our graduation.
