Summitt vows to keep fighting | FIBA.basketball

KNOXVILLE (NCAA) – Legendary University of Tennessee women's coach Pat Summitt has vowed to continue her coaching career after it was revealed she was diagnosed with dementia on set at age 59.

Summitt, who holds the NCAA Division I record for men's and women's basketball with 1,071 career wins and eight national titles, was diagnosed earlier this summer but had waited to make an announcement because she wanted to speak to her players first, including two – Glory Johnson and Shekinna Stricklen – just returned from the World University Games in China on Tuesday.

In a video statement on utsports.com, Summitt said she wanted to make full disclosure because her program has always been an “open book.”

“Earlier this year, Mayo Clinic doctors diagnosed me with early-onset Alzheimer’s-type dementia at age 59,” Summitt said.

“I plan to continue to be your coach. For this reason, I will be able to rely on my excellent coaching team like never before.”

Summitt's assistants, Mickie DeMoss, Holly Warlick and Dean Lockwood, have a combined 89 years of coaching experience.

Before Summitt made the announcement, she had disclosed her condition to the school, which offered its full support and told Summitt that the coaching job was hers as long as she wanted it.

If you listen to Summitt's video statement, that could take some time.

“I love being your coach and it is a privilege to work with Lady Vol’s outstanding student-athletes every day. I appreciate the full support of UT Chancellor Dr. Jimmy Cheek and UT athletics director Joan Cronin to continue coaching at the University of Tennessee as long as the good Lord willing.

Summitt, who was inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in 2000, was Tennessee's coach for 37 years and took over as a 22-year assistant shortly after joining the program.

She coached the United States to Olympic gold in 1984 in Los Angeles and silver at the 1976 Montreal Games.

Messages of support for Summitt poured in, and a number of former players were reported to have traveled to Knoxville to see her in person.

Former WNBA All-Star and four-time All-American Chamique Holdsclaw said, “My heart aches for Coach Summitt and my family in Tennessee. I just cried and cried when I first found out. It was an important part of my life and will.” God has the final word.

USA international Candace Parker added: “Coach Summitt, you continue to amaze me with your strength and courage. Whenever you face adversity, face it head on! True inspiration to me and one of the strongest women I know. I love you and We will get through this together, like the Lady Vols have always done, like FAMILY.”

Parker's international coach Geno Auriemma, who is also Summitt's arch-rival at the University of Connecticut, also offered his support.

“I was shocked and saddened to hear the news of Pat Summitt’s diagnosis,” he said. “You don’t necessarily associate people our age with dementia, so this announcement has really put things into perspective.

“Pat has great support from her family, friends and co-workers and I know they will help her tremendously. I have no doubt that Pat will take on this challenge, just as she has done with everyone else during her Hall of Fame career – straight up. “I wish her all the best.”

FIBA