PAT SUMMITT'S COACHING ACCOMPLISHMENTS
Aug. 11, 2023
MAJOR CAREER ACHIEVEMENTS
- In 38 seasons as head coach at Tennessee (1974-2012), she coached 161 student-athletes and produced a 1,098-208 record (.840).
- Her program maintained a 100-percent graduation rate for players who completed their eligibility at Tennessee.
- In August of 2012, the 122nd player under her watch graduated and entered graduate school for her final playing season as a Lady Vol.
- Summitt's career victory total was the most of any coach in the history of NCAA men's or women's basketball at the time of her retirement.
- She guided her teams to eight NCAA National Championships (1987, 1989, 1991, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2007, 2008).
- Tennessee made an unprecedented 31-consecutive appearances in the NCAA Tournament and advanced to a record 18 NCAA Final Fours, winning eight times and finishing second on five occasions.
- Her squads won a combined 32 SEC regular season and tournament championships (16 regular season/16 tournament).
- Tennessee's record during 33 years of play in the SEC under her watch was 317-44 (.878) in the regular season and 69-17 (.802) during the postseason tournament.
- She produced 21 WBCA/Kodak/State Farm All-Americans who earned 36 honors.
- A total of 39 of her players earned All-SEC distinction, combining to garner 82 honors.
- Fourteen of her players went on to compete in the Olympic Games.
- Sent 34 of her players on to the WNBA, including 15 drafted in the first round and three picked No. 1 overall.
- A total of 62 players who were mentored in the UT program by Summitt went on to basketball coaching or administrative positions in the professional, college or high school ranks.
- Coached U.S. Olympic Women's Basketball Team to gold medal at 1984 Los Angeles Olympiad.
- Also selected as assistant on 1980 U.S. Olympic Team and for various other international competitions.
- Was co-captain player on silver-medal-winning 1976 U.S. Olympic squad while employed as coach at Tennessee.
- Among hundreds of honors, she received the Presidential Medal of Freedom from President Barack Obama during a ceremony at the White House on May 29, 2012.
- USA TODAY named her as one of its “100 Women of the Century” on Aug. 14, 2020, on the 100th anniversary of the 19th Amendment.
MAJOR COACHING AWARDS
- Summitt was named as the Naismith Coach of the Century in April 2000.
- In July 2009, The Sporting News named the "50 Greatest Coaches of All-Time." Summitt was voted 11th and was the only woman on the list.
- She became the first female recipient of the Legends of Coaching Award, which was adopted by the John R. Wooden Award Committee in 1999. The award recognizes the lifetime achievement of coaches who exemplify the late Coach Wooden's high standards of coaching success and personal achievement.
- After winning her eighth NCAA title, Summitt received the prestigious John R. Wooden Legends of Coaching lifetime achievement award in Los Angeles, Calif., on April 12, 2008.
- In 1990, Summitt received the most prestigious award given by the Basketball Hall of Fame, the John Bunn Award. Summitt was the first female to receive the award in the Hall's history.
- Named 2011 Sports Illustrated Sportswoman of the Year (along with Sportsman of the Year, Duke men's coach Mike Krzyzewski on Dec. 6, 2011).
- Summitt was named 1987, 1989, 1994, 1998 and 2004 Naismith College Coach of the Year and 1998 AP Coach of the Year.
- She was chosen WBCA/Converse Coach of the Year in 1983 and 1995 and the IKON/WBCA Coach of the Year in 1998.
- She was named SEC Coach of the Year eight times (1993, 1995, 1998, 2001, 2003, 2004, 2007, 2011).
HALL OF FAME MEMBERSHIPS
- Summitt was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield, Mass., on Oct. 13, 2000, the first time she was eligible for the Hall’s ballot.
- In 2023, she was enshrined again, this time as a player on the silver-medal 1976 U.S. Olympic Team (first Games with WBB).
- In 1999, Summitt was welcomed as a coach with the inaugural class into the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame.
- Inducted into the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Hall of Fame on June 24, 2022, as the first woman in the coaching category.
- In October 1990, Summitt was enshrined in the Women’s Sports Foundation Hall of Fame at a gala event in New York City.
- In April 1996, she was inducted into the National Association for Sport and Physical Education’s Hall of Fame.
- She was inducted into the Tennessee Women’s Hall of Fame on June 17, 2011.
- Summitt was a 2003 inductee into the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame.
- The Greater Knoxville Sports Hall of Fame welcomed her in 1992.
- In November 2012, Summitt was inducted into the Lady Vol (now Univ. of Tennessee Athletics) Hall of Fame.
