USA - Legend Summitt now Tennessee head coach emeritus

KNOXVILLE (NCAA/Olympics) - All good things eventually come to an end, and so it is with coaching icon Pat Summitt.

The University of Tennessee announced on Wednesday that the face of their women’s team had stepped aside after 38 years at the helm.

She will remain at the school under the title "head coach emeritus.”

Summitt, 59, led Tennessee to eight national championships.

She won 1,098 games and lost 207.

Summitt guided the Tennessee to 16 regular-season Southeastern Conference championships and 16 SEC tournament titles.

A co-captain of the USA women's team in the first Women's Olympic Basketball Tournament at the 1976 Games in Montreal, she settled for a silver medal after a heavy loss to the Soviet Union in the Final.

Eight years later, and Summitt coached the USA women to the gold medal at the Los Angeles Games.

Less than a year ago, Summitt was diagnosed with early onset dementia-Alzheimer's type.

In a statement issued by Tennessee, Summitt said: "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.

"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."

Holly Warlick, who has served as Summitt's assistant coach for 27 years, has been promoted to role of head coach.

United States coaches Geno Auriemma and Mike Krzyzewski praised Summitt.

Auriemma, the University of Connecticut boss and head coach of the USA women's team that will play at the London Games, has been Summitt’s rival on the court for a long time.

He said in a statement: "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 to the University of Tennessee and to the game of women's basketball as a whole."

Auriemma also said: "I am thrilled for [Warlick] as this opportunity is well-deserved and Pat will be a huge asset to her moving forward."

Duke University men's coach Mike Krzyzewski, who leads the American Olympic team, said: "Her amazing career accomplishments are among an elite group of leaders.

"Very few people leave a lasting legacy in their chosen professions and coach Summitt has done just that at the University of Tennessee and in women's basketball.

"She raised the level of commitment, pride and notoriety of her sport. I am honored to call her a friend."

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