Back when Pat Summitt was 22 years old, driving the van to road games, doing the team laundry and guiding her Lady Vols in front of a few dozen fans, her ambition was just to make a career in coaching.
To say she reached her goal doesn’t even begin to cover it.
Tennessee’s next victory will be No. 1,000 for Summitt — a number no college basketball coach has ever achieved. It could come Monday night at Oklahoma.
“I never thought about it. I never focused on numbers,” said Summitt, who won her first game on Jan. 10, 1975, against Middle Tennessee State. “I’ve always tried to get teams ready every year and win every game we can possibly win.”
To get an idea how amazing Summitt’s achievement is, consider that no Division I women’s team other than her Lady Vols has 1,000 wins, let alone a single coach. Second place goes to retired Texas coach Jody Conradt at 900.
On the men’s side, Bob Knight finished his storied coaching career with 902 victories. Only six NBA coaches have hit 1,000 wins — and they play twice as many games a season as Summitt’s teams.
“It’s a pretty amazing number even for me. I’m like, ’Wow,’” Summitt said. “Have I really been doing this for 35 years and where did the time go? I think about all the players that wore the orange uniform and made a commitment to winning.”
Now 56, her coaching achievements extend much further than just victories. She has 70 former players, assistant coaches, operations directors, graduate assistants or team managers coaching basketball.
However, none of her proteges will likely come close to reaching their mentor’s win total.
With coaches no longer getting started at such an early age, it’s going to be difficult for anyone to ever catch her. Former Tennessee assistant coach Nikki Caldwell, who took over as UCLA’s head coach this season would have to average 25 wins over the next 40 years to reach the milestone.
“Coach always says she got the job when she was 10,” said Caldwell, laughing. “I can’t see myself doing it that long. The thing about Pat getting there is that she is playing the toughest teams year in and year out.”
That’s true. Over 400 of her victories have come against ranked teams. It’s fitting that the second-ranked Sooners are up next.
“There’s no way you can even begin to comprehend what 1,000 wins is for a college basketball coach,” Tennessee men’s coach Bruce Pearl said. “You could understand it for an NBA coach because of how many games they play. But this is unprecedented stuff. These are records that will never be touched. Records are meant to be broken, but will we ever see another college basketball coach win 1,000? Not the way we hire and fire coaches these days.”
Kara Lawson, who played at Tennessee and is now on the Sacramento Monarchs, remembers the first time Summitt came to her house on a recruiting visit.
“She was sitting next to my mom but in between them was a lamp on the table. She moved the lamp back so that she could see my mom,” Lawson said. “I think that lamp hadn’t moved for like 15 years.”
Her peers are amazed at Summitt’s success.
“She’s the only one — male or female,” said Rutgers coach C. Vivian Stringer, who is third on the women’s victory list with 816. “That’s pretty special and says a lot. That’s something she’ll always have and I can’t think of a more deserving person.”
Adds Pat Riley, who won 1,210 games with the Los Angeles Lakers, New York Knicks, and Miami Heat: “She’s respected by all her peers, both men and women, as being just an extremely great coach and probably one of the greatest coaches of all time, men or women.”
Yes, it’s possible that a few more women’s coaches could reach the 1,000 milestone by the time their careers are over. Sylvia Hatchell of North Carolina also has 800 victories. And, of course, there is Summitt’s nemesis, UConn’s Geno Auriemma. He’ll most likely reach the 700-win plateau next season.
But no one will likely catch Summitt’s final win total, whatever it may be. She still has plenty of years left in her coaching career.
“It’s mind-boggling that a coach can win 1,000 games let alone coach 1,000 games at the level she does it at,” Lawson said. “I don’t think it’s going to be done again even though records are meant to be broken.”
Lawson is one of the many great players to have gone through Tennessee under Summitt. The Hall of Fame coach consistently attracts the best talent across the country, including former stars Chamique Holdsclaw, Tamika Catchings and Candace Parker.
“She’s an amazing coach,” said Parker, who helped Tennessee win two national championships and was named 2008 female athlete of the year by The Associated Press. “She brings out the best in you and makes you a better player by the time you leave.”
As partly evidenced by the AP award, Summitt’s greatest achievement has been the national attention she’s brought to the women’s game. When she first started coaching — pretty much as a volunteer while she prepared to play in the Olympics — few games were ever on television. Now it’s easy to turn on the television and find a women’s game on some channel.
“When I think about getting to 1,000 wins, I think about the University of Tennessee saying yes to women’s basketball long before it was a popular thing to do,” Summitt said.
The Lady Vols’ rivalry with Connecticut over the past 15 years drew some of the highest ratings ever for a women’s game. About the only blemish on her unbelievable career might be letting that series end last season for reasons which still have not been revealed.
Even playing against their archrivals, Summitt would draw huge ovations from the Connecticut crowd as fans across the nation respected her and what she had accomplished.
“Whenever we played in the SEC we always would see everyone from that school would be at that game,” Lawson said. “I’d talk to guys in the NBA now, and they’d say ’We watched you when you’d come to Florida, Alabama, Kentucky. We didn’t go to many games, we always came to Tennessee games.” ’
With all the wins and accolades, Summitt is still most happy just coaching and teaching.
“She taught us that being a lady and a wonderful person is way more important than anything that you accomplish on the basketball court,” Catchings said. “Pat wanted all of us to be successful women, and have more character and class about ourselves than anything.”
To that end Summitt already has more wins than even she could imagine.
Phillip Fulmer through the years
Volscars 2012
Bruce Pearl through the years
Scripps Interactive Newspapers Group
Comments » 67
WorkinLikeHeck writes:
First
SignalMtnVol writes:
Incredible run for an incredible coach. That's 28+ wins per season average for 35 FULL years. Amazing feat in college ball.
WorkinLikeHeck writes:
thanks Mike, I am glad you care so much about a women's regular season college basketball game. LMAO!!!!!!!!! They can play in the NCAA tourney.
MrBamSeydu writes:
I don't think the reason for that series being cancelled will look as bad on Pat as it will on Geno.
She cancelled it, but it was because of him. So, who would you look down on more? The person who is big enough to step away from a fight or the person who is creating it in the first place?
volpreacher writes:
I hate to see them not playing because it would be a delight to beat them this year with our young team. Pat would have the Lady Vols ready for a show down. Congratulations Pat. Geno can always look at Pat's tail lights in the coaching realm.
tennrich1 writes:
And look at the level of competition she did it against..the greatest teams in women's college history..year in-year out.
YOU ARE THE BEST, PAT!
rockitwithrespect writes:
its a AP article. i thought last years UT vs Memphis game was the highest rated event on espn.
congrats Pat
GO VOLS!!
Rangervol writes:
Pat's teams won the past two national championships.Look it up its a fact.
volpreacher writes:
Geno, can't even come close to the coaching abilities of Pat. You don't see anyone singing his praises except UConn people. And by the way, I'll take that bet and I don't even bet. UCONN will NOT win 3 championships in a row. Don't believe they'll do it this year.
Rangervol writes:
Maya Moore??? Read the article, Who was voted the 2008 female athlete of the year by the AP?
PureOrange writes:
Coach Pat Summitt has set a tremendous standard for all coaches. She is about excellence, both on the court and in the classroom, as well as in real life.
I am very proud and thankful that Pat Summitt has been, is, and will be the Coach of our Tennessee Lady Vols.
We have had a lot of good people associated with UT, but none has done more for the university and our state than Pat has.
BIGEJ writes:
Hey Gump, The story is from the AP not KNS...pathetic..
WorkinLikeHeck writes:
LOL...his name should be MORON_FROM_CONNECTICUT
mempuss writes:
Pat Summitt is womens basketball!!!! Everyone else is just details!
eefor10c writes:
Hey, ucant! What happened last year on your coronation as the national champs. Couldn't make the finals. Pat has eight national championships and is respected as a coach-not like Geno who tries to pick fights with players from other teams.
smillar31 writes:
Hey Mike! Can you help me out? I'm sorta new to this women's college basketball thing. I know who Pat Summitt is...who doesn't. But who is this Geno character? Your insight would be appreciated. Oh wait, nevermind, I just remembered. He was Tony Sopranos underboss, right? I may be wrong...if so, my apologies.
johnlg00#206211 writes:
Thank you! I was tempted to mention it myself, but it would be a violation of my vow to ignore interloping trolls! That is indeed the least of his many transgressions against LV fans and good taste, however. Not that all of us are models of decorum in discussing UConn! For which, SHAME!
YankeeVol writes:
Folks, FYI....
When undesirable people post rude and provocative messages, just ignore them. Responding gives them the pathetic rush that they're looking for.....
volboy81 writes:
Coach Summitt is the class and the standard in coaches. Im proud she's from Tennessee and The University of Tennessee!
GO LADY VOLS!!
Titan writes:
Hey Mike - how come we had to beat Stanford last year in the final? What happened to the Great Maya and Geno team? Pat canceled the series so that when UConn and the Lady Vols met in the championship game, it would really be special. Guess Geno didn't want to hold up your end of the deal. Sad.
Titan writes:
Butch - statistically, over their careers, Pat wins a championship every 4.375 years. Geno wins one every 4.6 years. Maybe I'm not too good at math . . . but I believe I'd rather have Pat's average than the "great Geno's". Duh!!!!!
dadavids writes:
I don't know if Geno is a better coach or not, but I am certain that women's basketball, and Geno himself, would not be anywhere near its current level without Summit.
floridavolsfan writes:
The phone is ringing and it is Pres. Obama to congratulate you coach on #1000 and he also wants you pay more taxes so he can give it to planned parenthood and the DNC!!!
marinevol writes:
So, you think 22% is better than 23%. Don't you get tired of making a fool of yourself?
jsmithnga#207674 writes:
Another thing that is so impressive is that 100% of her players have graduated and many with honors. Also don't remember one of her recruits quitting bb to play volleyball to avoid playing for her.
marinevol writes:
Actually, the first NCAA women's basketball tournament was in 1982, so there have only been 27 championships, and Pat has won 8 of them. That's 30% of all the championships won. Geno has won 19% of them, or 22% of the championships during his 23 years. Got any more statistics to throw out, Butch?
LadyVolFanForever writes:
Lady Vol fans, this is Coach Summitts' time. Time to acknowledge a tremendous feat. Please ignore the few folks who have nothing better to do than try to stir us up. Sad for them that they do not have anything to talk about on their own teams' blogs.
The coming event and all it entails is too important to be diluted with the bickering. Ignore them and maybe they will go away.
The fact is, history will soon be made. Coach Summitt is a tremendous person, role model and coach. Her accomplishments are to be celebrated and as Lady Vol fans, we are very proud and thankful.
johnlg00#206211 writes:
By my math, eight championships in 35 years equals a championship every 4.4 years. Five championships in 23 years equals a championship every 4.6 years. Considering that Pat didn't win her first one until, I think, 1987, which is about the time Geno started, that means Pat won EIGHT championships in the SAME LENGTH OF TIME that Geno was winning FIVE--in the same era, in other words. UConn is great; Geno is great; Pat and UT are greater--end of story.
utang1602#204610 writes:
Can you go BACK to whereever you came from? I am a heterosexual female, and your post is offensive to me.
And, btw, Geno and attractive? Ha ha ha ha. Those two words do not belong in the same sentence...same paragraph...same page. Ugh, just ugh. He's like 4 feet tall and has a perpetual scowl on his face.
blitzshoot writes:
(This comment was removed by the site staff.)
ncvol writes:
Pat Summitt has got this coaching thing down pat....lol
Go Lady Vols!
I will say this one other thing...We are Vols fans on this site and we love our Tennessee Volunteers...If you can't say something nice don't say anything at all.....Pat and Geno are both good coaches but we sing Rocky Top around here and feel that Pat is the better of the two.
Go Vols.
xvolx writes:
you mean 4 nat. titles don't you. I forgot, maya already Uchoked last year. Counting your titles before they hatch Mike. When they do choke and they will just like last year, you won't come near this site. Uchoke has a weakness and they will lose this year too.
oasis3#214380 writes:
I think the differences in the programs at Tennessee and Connecticut are reflected in the comments from the fans after this article. One side is a reflection of class and pride, the other is one of whiny attention seekers. Geno has never won a championship when he didn't have the best players. Pat has coached won several with teams less talented than her opponents. She is simply the best.
marinevol writes:
You are right. As for the Ucon interlopers, the ignore light is on.
tenn32rebel writes:
***TROLL ALERT***!!! ***TROLL ALERT***!!!
Write your junk on the Boneyard where it is loved!
***TROLL ALERT***!!! ***TROLL ALERT***!!!
Titan writes:
Mike - you missed the point. What xvolx was saying (with some sarcasm) is that as great as the great and wonderful and best player ever Maya Moore is, she should surely win at with Geno but sadly last year didn't work out that way for her. You, sir are the one who doesn't get it. And people who live in glass houses shouldn't throw stones (i.e. calling someone an idiot). Seems like the same smack was being talked by UConn fans at this point last season - and you see what you got to show for it - watching the Lady Vols hang another banner.
FortyNinerVol writes:
Congrats Pat...you truly have reached the Summitt...I can confidently say you are the greatest college basketball coach of all time..keep the championships rolling in
BigOrangeVol writes:
Oorah! You stole my thunder USMC.
The first NCAA tournament was the '81-'82 season.
GenoSmurf started cheating at UseCons in '85-'86.
Pat won her first NC in '86-87.
Auri-Enema would have to have 8.4 consecutive 39-0 seasons to catch up to Pat if she retired after the 1,000th.
Pat is only 1 year and 9 months older than Guido (even though his maturity level is that of a 4 year old) so I don't see him as being anything other than her water-boy for the rest of his life. He'll be 65 before he can get to close to 1,000. That's why he hates her; he's jealous and knows he'll never measure up to a woman (actually he doesn't even measure up to a lot of elementary school kids). He'll forever be known as a coach that was good but lived his entire professional life in the shadow of the greatest basketball coach in the history of the game.
At their current rates, when they both reach 65 years of age Pat (in 8 years) would have 1,279 wins and 10 National Championships. Coach "Picks-on-chicks" (in 10 years) will have 1,018 and 7 NC's. I'm sure when Pat decides to retire Geno will hang on forever until he dies trying to catch her. We'll see that little troll coaching at a rec league somewhere when he's 90 saying, "I passed her, I passed her!".
The sad thing is that it's not a competition for Pat but it is Auriemma's sole motivation in life. What a pitifully insecure little man!
BigOrangeVol writes:
Speaking of pitifully insecure little men...I think that Mikey and Butchy are really Ace and Gary, the Ambiguously Gay Duo unmasked!
See Butchy and Mikey in action:
http://video.yahoo.com/watch/148996
JohnsonCity_George writes:
Relax Butchie, relax....
mad_poly_uct writes:
Oh, how this back and forth phooey can be amusing & irritating, but my Uconn bretheren certainly deserve your contempt. I picked this post only because I somewhat disagree with the premise that Uconn always had the best players in their NC run. '00, & '02, ok, they did, but '95 I thought was pretty evenly matched with TN,and was made up of kids mostly recruited from the Northeast. In'03, &'04 the difference was clearly 1 player only,DT. I certainly have no problem, in fact can proudly admire PHS as the dean of WCBB. The sport wouldn't be where it is today without her tireless effort to help put the game on the map. However I also believe the game wouldn't be as visible on the national scene as it today without the success of the the Uconn program. Yes, there most certainly are people outside the Uconn realm who sing Geno's praises, despite what one posted previously.As a devout fan of WCBB, and a rabid Uconn fan since the 70's, I am grateful for what PS,& GA have accomplished. 8 NC's is an awesome accomplishment(wish it were less, but hell, I'm not losin' any sleep), but then again, so is 5. I've nothing to complain about. One last picky, perhaps b****y note, I never was one to believe the assumption that Uconn needs Tenn, more than the opposite. The series may have ended,but the quality of recruits coming in to both schools will remain top notch for years to come, and judging by Uconn's non conference schedule of Texas, Duke, UNC, Oklahoma,& Stanford, and with Tenn's, always tough non conference schedule, I think it's safe to say neither school needs each other. Good luck Mon. PS deserves the 1,000 to come against a team as highly ranked as Okla. Is that a road game?Well, if so, maybe it can wait 'till next home game. You all deserve for it to be at TBA. Have a great weekend all! :)
JohnsonCity_George writes:
I hope she answers and says "yes" to "all of the above".
JohnsonCity_George writes:
Nice work Marinevols.
mad_poly_uct writes:
LOL!! Folks, I did not use the "phooey" in my original post! I don't use colorful language like that!And b****y, had been revised to "female doggy" something, something, so I just put the ****'s in, because I couldn't bear reading it with that edit of "female doggy" something, something....You get the picture....
Titan writes:
Mad Poly - nice objective post - thanks.
jopad#212858 writes:
I don't know who this Mike from Conn. is but I can tell he's from that state. My wife and I have traveled in and visited 48 of our states in the past 14 years. Most people are friendly and enjoyable to talk with. NOT so in Conn. without a doubt the people there are the most unfriendly in the USA, and obnoxious people in the 48 states we visited. Conn. is the only state we refuse to visit again. Guess we must have met Mike while we were there. No mike, it wasn't coach Summits fault the series was cancelled. Look no further than the G.A. and the obnoxious people who live in your state.
mad_poly_uct writes:
LOL!! Must have been Fairfield County! But rest assured, one visit to Connecticut is all it takes. By that I mean, what the hell is there to see?! Hartford?!! The insurance capitol of the world?! Yuck!I love it because it's my home. I've lived in the miwest & west coast for periods and came back because of family.Believe me, we're not all obnoxious, and unfriendly, and we had nothing to do with the series being cancelled...
donniedem writes:
OBAMA is president!!! Get over it you donkey...I hope he raises your taxes first!
jopad#212858 writes:
Mike, you are are as wrong about the attitude of the people in your state as you are about G.A. Good comment you made about loving your state, shows you are as obnoxious as most other people there. This proven by your comments written here. LOL yourself!!
jopad#212858 writes:
Mad-Poly, My apologies to you. I did not look at the name on the response to my original post. I just get tired of people like MIKE acting like a donkey behinds instead of acknowledging accomplishments of other people. I am 71 years old and have seen Pat Summitt coach since her 1st. year. Even MIKE cannot deny the contributions she has made to womens basketball. If Geno reaches 1000 or surpasses her national championship total then I will be among the 1st. to acknowlege his achievements (even if he is a "horses patoot".
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