Summitt's Enshrinement Just Days Away

10/11/2000

Into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame Class of 2000

Teleconference Quotes
University of Tennessee women's basketball coach Pat Summitt is just days away from her enshrinement into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield, Mass.

Summitt will travel to the festivities flanked by family, her UT coaching staff, friends and a contingent from the University of Tennessee, where she has been the women's hoops coach since 1974. In addition to her husband R.B. and 10-year old son Tyler, Summitt's brothers, Kenneth and Tommy Head and sister Linda Attebery will be in attendance. Summitt's parents, Richard and Hazel Head, will not be making the trip from their middle Tennessee home.

"This is a tremendous honor," said Summitt. "Inclusion into the Hall of Fame is a revered distinction for any athlete or coach and I am truly humbled. This wouldn't have been possible had it not been for the efforts of every player who has ever worn a Lady Vol uniform, my outstanding assistant coaches, or the administration at the University of Tennessee who made women's basketball a priority. They all share in the excitement of this honor," said Summitt.

Six individuals will make up the Class of 2000 -- two players, two coaches and two contributors. The representatives are: players- Isiah Thomas and Bob McAdoo, coaches- Summitt and Morgan Wootten, and contributors-Danny Biasone, C.M. Newton, comprise the list of electees for Enshrinement into the Basketball Hall of Fame on October 13, 2000, at the Springfield Civic Center in Springfield, Massachusetts, the birthplace of basketball.

Former UCLA coach Billie Moore, Summitt's coaching mentor and 1999 inductee into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, will be her presentor at the ceremonies on Friday night. "Obviously, inclusion into the Hall of Fame represents no forgone conclusions but if there ever was a time that I'd say someone was a sure bet to be inducted - it was Pat. From a pure coaching standpoint, I don't think there is a bigger basketball honor that one could receive than being named to the Hall of Fame."

Summitt, who becomes the 16th woman named to the Hall and just the fourth women's coach ever, was also selected as the Naismith Coach of the Century last April.

A native of Henrietta, Tennessee, Summitt has spent her entire coaching career (26 seasons) at the University of Tennessee, where she had compiled a 728-150 record (second active winningest coach in history) and has led the Lady Vols to 26 consecutive post-season berths, including 16 Final Fours (four AIAW) and 11 title games. Her 12 trips to the NCAA Final Four ties legendary UCLA coach John Wooden for best in history.

Summitt's Tennessee Lady Vols dominated the decade of the 1990s by winning four NCAA national championships in 1991, 1996, 1997 and 1998. Summitt also led the Lady Vols to national championships in 1987 and 1989. She has compiled a 69-13 NCAA Tournament record, best in history. She also led UT to the 1977, 1979, 1980 and 1981 AIAW Final Four. Summitt, who has been named Naismith College Coach of the Year in 1987, 1989, 1994 and 1998, led the Lady Vols to a perfect 39-0 record in the 1997-98 season and the NCAA championship.

In total, she has coached UT to nine Southeastern Conference regular season titles and ten SEC tournament titles. She has been named SEC Coach of the Year in 1993, 1995 and 1998. A member of the inaugural class of inductees into the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame (1999), Summitt coached the U.S. to the 1984 Olympic gold medal in Los Angeles in addition to gold medals in the 1979 Jones Cup and Pan Am Games

A record 48 candidates were considered for the Class of 2000 and 16 were selected as finalists for enshrinement. Thomas, Newton and Summitt are first-time electees; the other three electees have been previously nominated. An individual needs 18 of 24 votes from the Honors Committee for Enshrinement.

Fifteen women, representing three coaches, 10 players and two contributors have been enshrined in the Naismith Hall of Fame.

THE SCHEDULE OF EVENTSThursday, October 12    6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.      Class of 2000 Welcome Dinner (Basketball Hall of Fame)Friday, October 13    10:30 a.m. to Noon      Class of 2000 News Conference/Jacket Presentation                     (Springfield Civic Center)    Noon to 1:00 p.m.       Class of 2000 Lunch (Springfield Civic Center)    2:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.      NBA Jam Van, (Downtown Springfield)    5:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.      Pre-Enshrinement Dinner/Reception, (Springfield Civic Center)    6:00 p.m.           Civic Center doors open to the general public    7:00 p.m. to 8:45 p.m.      2000 Bunn/Gowdy Awards and Enshrinement Ceremony,                     (Springfield Civic Center)      9:00 p.m. to 1:00 a.m.      "Overtime," (Springfield Sheraton Hotel),                     featuring Grammy Award winning recording artist Bruce Hornsby. Saturday, October 14Coach Summitt will be returning home on Saturday morning - for the opening day of practice at 3:30 p.m.     8:00 a.m. to 9:30 a.m.      Coaches Clinic (Springfield College)    9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.      NBA Jam Van, (Basketball Hall of Fame)    9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.     Groundbreaking for the New Hall of FameMonday, October 16    7:00 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.      Basketball Hall of Fame NBA Game,                     (Boston Celtics vs. Atlanta Hawks, Springfield Civic Center)For more information, contact the Basketball Hall of Fame at 413-781-6500.
Enshrinement Weekend specialty Tour Packages

University of Tennessee Athletics

Related Videos