We Back Pat!
Pat Summitt is known for her courage, integrity, and commitment to the Lady Vols and UT.
In August, announcing her diagnosis with early onset dementia, she stayed true to her game. She showed amazing courage as she spoke openly to her student-athletes, her coaches, her UT colleagues, and her fans
We are honored to have Pat as our women’s basketball coach. As she begins her thirty-eighth season, we want her to be our head coach as long as she can be. We hope to see her win a ninth national championship.
I’m pleased to tell you that Coach Summitt is out recruiting now and it’s “business as usual” for the Lady Vols. She has our full support and the capable assistance of her coaching staff—Holly Warlick, Dean Lockwood, and Mickie DeMos—who collectively have eighty-nine years of experience.
It’s not surprising that Pat’s announcement has become a source of inspiration to many people, including others who suffer from dementia-type illnesses and those who love and care for people with these illnesses.
UT’s athletic department has started selling a “We Back Pat” T-shirt, with all proceeds benefiting Alzheimer’s Tennessee and UT Medical Center. To date, more than 30,000 shirts have been sold, and more than $128,500 has been raised.
In case you missed it, I’m reprinting Coach Summitt’s message here. The video is embedded below.
Throughout my career, I have always made it a point that my life and my basketball program were an open book.
With that in mind, I have something I’d like to share with my Tennessee families—the university, boosters, and fans of Lady Vol basketball.
Once last season concluded, I addressed some ongoing concerns regarding my health. After consulting with my local physicians, I decided to visit the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota.
Earlier this summer, the doctors at the Mayo Clinic diagnosed me with early onset dementia (“Alzheimer’s Type”) at the age of 59.
I plan to continue to be your coach. Obviously, I realize I may have some limitations with this condition since there will be some good days and some bad days.
For that reason, I will be relying on my outstanding coaching staff like never before. We have always collaborated on every facet of Lady Vol basketball; and now you will see Holly Warlick, Dean Lockwood, and Mickie DeMoss taking on more responsibility as their duties will change significantly.
I love being your coach, and the privilege to go to work every day with our outstanding Lady Vol basketball student-athletes. I appreciate the complete support of UT Chancellor Dr. Jimmy Cheek and UT Athletics Director Joan Cronan to continue coaching at the University of Tennessee as long as the good Lord is willing.
I’ve been honest and shared my health concerns with you, and now we’ll move forward to the business at hand…coaching a great group of Lady Vols. For the time being, I hope you will respect my privacy regarding this matter.
Thank you.
Go Lady Vols!
– Pat Summitt