Pat Summitt to Step Down

**cigaretteman** · 04-18-2012, 12:51 PM

Eight months after disclosing her diagnosis of early-onset Alzheimer’s disease, Pat Summitt was poised Wednesday to announce that she will step aside as the Tennessee women’s basketball coach, making way for longtime assistant Holly Warlick take over the Lady Vols.
The university will make the news official via a press release Wednesday afternoon after Summitt meets with her players in Knoxville, Tenn., to inform them in private. A news conference is expected to follow Thursday.

Summitt, who has won more college basketball game than any man or woman in the sport (1,098), is not retiring but will remain part of Tennessee’s staff, assuming the title “head coach emeritus,” which will give her latitude and flexibility to do as much mentoring with players as her health allows.
But her role will be circumscribed by NCAA rules, which will permit her to watch practice, collaborate on game plans and continue as a motivator, disciplinarian and mentor but will preclude her from actively coaching. Rather than sit on the bench during games, she’ll sit directly behind the Volunteers’ staff, able to consult with Warlick and, no doubt, telegraph her impressions of what’s unfolding on court through her famously piercing glare.

Pat Summitt to step down: legendary Tennessee women’s basketball coach won 1,098 games, 8 NCAA titles - The Washington Post

**CycloneRulzzz** · 04-18-2012, 01:07 PM

Very sad. She is an Icon in women's basketball and basketball in general. Seeing her in Des Moines you could tell she was a shell of her former self. I can say I got to see her final game.

**CyCrazy** · 04-18-2012, 01:10 PM

Not surprising considering her condition. Too bad it had to end that way for her.

**BenEClone** · 04-18-2012, 01:11 PM

Wash Post reports there will be a press con this afternoon. Assistant Holly Warlick to take over. Neat transition - no search. They'll compete for one new assistant.

**jbhtexas** · 04-18-2012, 01:12 PM

Originally Posted by CyclonesRulzzz

Very sad. She is an Icon in women's basketball and basketball in general. Seeing her in Des Moines you could tell she was a shell of her former self. I can say I got to see her final game.

Yeah, I saw a recent interview with her, and it was very sad. Horrible disease (not that any of them aren't)...

**jbhtexas** · 04-18-2012, 01:17 PM

merge perhaps?

http://www.cyclonefanatic.com/forum/...step-down.html (Pat Summitt to Step Down)

**NickTheGreat** · 04-18-2012, 01:37 PM

Sad deal for see.

**ISUKyro** · 04-18-2012, 05:04 PM

Pat Summitt steps aside as coach of Tennessee Lady Vols - ESPN

Very sad she stepped down. It's hard to think what WBB would be like in the US without her.

**Jambalaya** · 04-18-2012, 06:00 PM

Originally Posted by ISUKyro

Pat Summitt steps aside as coach of Tennessee Lady Vols - ESPN

Very sad she stepped down. It's hard to think what WBB would be like in the US without her.

Went to my only wbb NCAA game in I.C. in 1986......Tennessee vs Georgia. We were friends with the Abrahamson family (Katie A played for Georgia freshman year, then transferred to Iowa)

We sat behind the Tennessee bench. Not a huge, or loud crowd, since no local teams involved, so I could hear nearly everything from Pat S. Her intensity from my perspective was palpable. amazing how intense she was being around her

**CyBroncos** · 04-18-2012, 06:06 PM

I wonder who gets that job. It would be the equivalent of following Coach K when he retires.

**twistedredbird** · 04-18-2012, 06:12 PM

Originally Posted by CyBroncos

I wonder who gets that job. It would be the equivalent of following Coach K when he retires.

Worlick was announced as Head Coach. Once walk-on, who as point guard led the to final fours and was Assoc Head Coach.

I became a fan of WBB because of Summit and the Vols. Without Summit, don't know if I will be a Vols WBB fan any longer....really have no other reason to care about TN.

**jdoggivjc** · 04-18-2012, 07:55 PM

So sad to see this happen to such a strong woman. Not saying she's not still strong - she'll fight this with everything she has. It's just that you can already visually tell this is affecting her.

**CycloneRulzzz** · 04-18-2012, 08:21 PM

Originally Posted by jdoggivjc

So sad to see this happen to such a strong woman. Not saying she's not still strong - she'll fight this with everything she has. It's just that you can already visually tell this is affecting her.

Agree. Positive in this is that through Summit this disease will hopefully get more attention than it currently gets. She can do for Alzheimer's what Jimmy V did for Cancer.