(Image source: Wikimedia Commons)
BY AUSTIN FAX
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Famous for her brazen personality and straightforward attitude, iconic Tennessee women’s basketball coach Pat Summitt has announced-- she has been diagnosed with early onset dementia.
PAT SUMMIT: “Throughout my career, I have always made it a point that my life and our basketball program were an open book. With that in mind I have something to share with my Tennessee family, the University, boosters and fans of Lady Vol basketball.” (YouTube/usportstv)
59-year-old Summitt has coached at Tennessee since 1974-- amassing eight national championships and becoming the most successful coach in NCAA history. She says she plans to stay on as the Lady Volunteers’ coach.
The Tennessean documented fan reaction to her diagnosis.
“Well, I just heard about it and it’s pretty shocking to me. She’s just been one of the greatest basketball coaches, in my opinion, ever.”
“It’s not something pretty to have to go through and you know there’s no cure. So it never looks good. It’s a bad diagnosis.”
In Sports Illustrated, former Tennessee player Michelle Marciniak says-- if anyone can overcome this devastating diagnosis, it’s her former coach.
“There are going to be changes. It’s a real-life health issue. But this woman is as tough as nails. She has the will of a lion and will do everything she can to prevent things from progressing faster than they should.”
Summitt says she will look more to her assistants in the upcoming year. The Washington Post’s Jena McGregor says her assistants will be more help as backup on the sidelines-- than if they were completely taking over the reigns.
“Given her condition, it matters almost as much now that we know Summitt is staying on as head coach. She will need the able experience and reputations of her staff to back up a decision that many would find controversial-- that is if her backup plan wasn’t so sound.”
And regardless of what kind of coach Summitt can be moving forward, ESPN’s Eamonn Brennan thinks-- we all need to look at the bigger picture.
“If her courageous struggle can raise awareness of the disease – and help prove to its sufferers that life need not end at diagnosis – then the legendary coach will have an impact that will eclipse the national titles and winning streaks. She’ll be an inspiration not just to women’s basketball fans or Alzheimer’s sufferers. She’ll be an inspiration to us all.”
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