Pat Summitt, the winningest coach in the history of Division 1 college basketball, has stepped down as the head coach of the University of Tennessee women’s basketball team.
This comes less than a year after the 59 year old Summitt was diagnosed with early onset dementia-Alzheimer’s type, a disease that has caused her issues with memory loss. Even after the diagnosis, Summit decided to coach this past season but recently decided she needs to take more time to focus on her health.
Summitt will not be separated from the team completely. She will hold the title of “Head Coach Emeritus,” and will report to Tennessee athletic director Dave Hart as she tries to help the team as much as she can.
To go along with her record number of 1,098 wins, Summitt led the Lady Vols to the NCAA Tournament in each of her 38 years as head coach, as well as 18 Final Fours, eight national championships, and 16 SEC regular season and tournament championships.
Summitt will be replaced by her longtime assistant Holly Warlick. Warlick played for Summitt, was a three-time All-American, and has beenan assistant for the Lady Vols for the last 27 years.