Reaching the Summitt

Pat Summitt's success is unmatched. This week, she became the first NCAA coach - male or female - to reach 1,000 career victories.

In her 35th season at the helm of the University of Tennessee Lady Volunteer women's basketball team, Summitt's all-time coaching career record now stands at 1,000-187 following a 73-43 win versus Georgia Thursday night in Knoxville.

En route to the milestone, Summitt has made a remarkable journey. Her Tennessee teams have won eight NCAA titles, made 16 NCAA Final Four appearances and captured 27 Southeastern Conference regular season and tournament championships. She has coached 12 Olympians, 19 All-Americans, 71 All-SEC performers, 43 players who have gone on to the professional ranks, as well as numerous members of U.S. National Teams. Amazingly, every Lady Vol women's basketball player since 1976 has played in at least one Final Four during her career at Tennessee.

Summitt is no stranger herself to the demands of being a top collegiate and international player. In 1973, at the age of 21, she made her U.S. National Team debut at the World University Games in the Soviet Union. She earned her spot on the team while playing collegiately at the University of Tennessee-Martin.

She continued playing with Team USA, and despite a knee injury during her senior season at UT-Martin, Summitt was determined to make the 1976 U.S. Olympic Team. And, she did just that. She battled back to become a member of the first U.S. Olympic Women's Basketball Team, helping the squad to the silver medal in the sport's Olympic debut in Montreal.

At the same time, Summitt had taken her first steps into the coaching ranks. She was named head coach of the Tennessee women's basketball program in 1974 as a graduate student at the age of 22.

Just one year after her Olympic playing debut, Summitt stepped into the coaching ranks for Team USA, while still leading Tennessee. She was named coach of the 1977 U.S. Junior National Team, guiding the squad to two gold medals.

She continued coaching in international play, heading up the U.S. Women's National Team at the 1979 William R. Jones Cup Games, the 1979 World Championships and the 1979 Pan American Games. Summitt was also named assistant coach to the late Sue Gunter for the 1980 U.S. Olympic Team. The squad captured the pre-Olympic qualifying tournament title before it was decided the U.S. Team would not attend the Moscow Olympic Games.

For the 1984 Olympic Games in Los Angeles, Summitt was named women's basketball head coach. The team swept the competition, winning all six games including the gold medal matchup with South Korea. It was the first Olympic gold medal for the U.S. Women's Basketball Team.

Summitt's career success has not gone unnoticed. She has been inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame and the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame. She was named the Naismith Coach of the Century in 2000, earned NCAA Coach of the Year honors seven times, captured the SEC Coach of the Year seven times, and won an ESPY, among many other awards. She has also been recognized for her active role in the community and with charitable organizations, such as the United Way, Race for the Cure and the American Heart Association.

Throughout her career, Summitt has maintained a commitment to her players. She continues to speak of her love for teaching, and she is a student of the game herself. The players around her tell of a coach who is passionate about the game and passionate about building successful women on and off the court.

Expect to see many more Lady Vols, who have been guided and inspired by Summitt, on Olympic teams in the future. And, expect to see a lot more of Summitt herself. At age 56, she shows no signs of slowing.

University of Tennessee Women's Basketball Olympians Coached by Pat Summitt:

Tamika Catchings (Gold, 2004; Gold, 2008)
Deadra Charles (Bronze, 1992)
Bridgette Gordon (Gold, 1988)
Lea Henry (Gold, 1984)
Chamique Holdsclaw (Gold, 2000)
Kara Lawson (Gold, 2008)
Nikki McCray (Gold, 1996; Gold, 2000)
Carla McGhee (Gold, 1996)
Cindy Noble (1980; Gold, 1984)
Candace Parker (Gold, 2008)
Jill Rankin (1980)
Holly Warlick (1980)

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