Pat Summitt steps down

[windsor]

Just saw on ESPN that she has resigned as head coach. It just broke me heart during the NCAAs this year to see her sitting at the end of the bench, not prowling the sidelines. There was one moment when, in response to a foul call, she stood up and fired that famous stare but beyond that moment she seemed a shadow of her former self.

Her contribution to women's sports, basketball particular, can not be overstated. She leaves as the winningest NCAA coach ever. 1,098 wins, an Olympic gold medal, 8 national titles. Tennessee never missed the NCAA tourney under her.

Every player who has completed their eligibilty at Tennessee has graduated.

She will remain at Tennessee as "head coach emeritus"

My hat is off to Pat Summitt, and I am saddened that at only 59 her storied carreer has come to an end.

Thoughts and to Pat, her son and her Tennessee basketball family

[CameronBornAndBred]

Like Dean Smith, she's one of the coaches I loved to hate, which means I have tons of respect for what she's accomplished. Best wishes to her; both the women's and the men's games owe her lots, she has set standards and records that are so high up there they may never be touched.

[CathyCA]

My thoughts and prayers go out to Pat and her family.

She is one of a kind! We saw her a lot during the 1989 Final Four. The women were playing at the same time as the men--the men's tournament was in Seattle at the King Dome, and the women's tournament was in Tacoma at the Tacoma Dome. She and the Tennessee team stayed right down the hall from us in our hotel, the Red Lion at the Sea-Tac airport. Even though Duke exited the tournament after the first national semi-final game, we still had plenty of excitement around us as the Lady Vols kept advancing in (and eventually winning) the NCAA tournament.

[TillyGalore]

Vibes and prayers for Coach Summitt and her family. They have a long not so pleasant road ahead of them.

[DevilWearsPrada2.0]

I am completely sad. I just read that Dick Clark passed away, and now that Pat Summit stepped down from Head Coach at Tennessee. It was obvious in the NCAA tournament, watching Tennessee Girls play, that Coach Summit really Wasn't there, for the games. It was so sad to see her not be herself and glare and stare down the officials and be on her feet, yelling out plays to her Lady Vols. Althought, it was apparent, that she would step down, sooner or later...... it is a very sad day in Womens Basketball. Coach Summit is a legend and was a true pioneer in Womens Basketball.

My thoughts and prayers are with her son and family, as they will have along way ahead of them.

I knew, watching the Tennessee - Baylor Girls game, would be Coach Summit's last game. She looked like she didn't know where she was, for much of the game.

The best to the Tennessee staff and the team, as their search for a New Coach, is ahead of them. It was a tough year for their team and staff to readjust to the new roll of Coach Summit and what she could and could't do.

I am just sad now, with Coach Pat and Dick Clark. Both legends in their careers.

Many prayers and vibes.

[windsor]

The best to the Tennessee staff and the team, as their search for a New Coach, is ahead of them. It was a tough year for their team and staff to readjust to the new roll of Coach Summit and what she could and could't do.



Many prayers and vibes.

They have already named long time assistant (and this years de facto coach) Holly Warlick.

[IowaDevil]

Thoughts, prayers and vibes to Pat Summit, her son and the Tennessee family! She is a legend and I'm thankful I was able to watch her during her glory days!

[Ima Facultiwyfe]

I won't forget her last comment walking into Cameron with her team. She was wired with a mike and you could hear her say, "There's no place like this place, is there?!"

Love, Ima

[lawgrad91]

Prayers and vibes for Coach Summitt and her family. I wanted to play for her when I was in high school. My high school treated female athletes like fourth class citizens, and I wanted to be somewhere that saw a value in women's Athletics.

[captmojo]

Sad to see. A true competitor, if there ever has been.
A little story...
UVA was another top program back in her early years. On her flight back home following a game, and pregnant, her water broke in flight over Virginia. The pilot started to descend for an emergency landing and she went irate over his actions because, "MY SON WILL NOT BE BORN IN VIRGINIA!"