University of Tennessee Lady Vols coach Pat Summitt was presented with an Honorary Doctorate from the United States Sports Academy on Tuesday in Daphne, Ala.
Summitt, who has won more games than any coach in college basketball, accepted her award during a presentation ceremony on the Academy's campus.
The Lady Vols coach developed a passion for basketball as a young child and continued playing through college at the University of Tennessee-Martin. In 1973, Summitt made her first U.S. National Team, winning a silver medal at the World University Games in the Soviet Union. She played on the gold-medal-winning team in the 1975 Pan American Games and brought home the silver while serving as co-captain of the 1976 Olympic Team. The next year, Summitt won two gold medals with the U.S. World Junior Team and was awarded another gold medal as coach of the U.S. Olympic Team in 1984.
While a graduate student at the University of Tennessee, Summitt was offered the position of the team's head coach at age 22.
Over the past 35 seasons as the Lady Volunteers Head Coach, Summitt has kept her elite program in the winner's circle, earning her 1,000th victory as a head coach during the 2008-2009 season. With 1,005 collegiate wins and 63 international wins, Coach Summitt has produced an unbelievable overall record of 1,068 wins.
Summitt, inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2000, has led the Lady Vols to eight National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) titles, as well as winning three straight titles in 1996, 1997 and 1998 becoming the first team ever to accomplish this in NCAA women's basketball championship history. The Lady Vols also have 27 Southeastern Conference (SEC) tournament and regular season championships, plus 28 consecutive appearances in the NCAA Tournament.
Coach Summitt has produced 12 Olympians, 19 Kodak All-Americans and 72 All-SEC performers. She has also turned out 43 professional players representing the American Basketball League (ABL), Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) and various overseas teams.
Along with the success on the court, Summitt's student-athletes have achieved a 100 percent graduation rate for all Lady Vols who have completed their eligibility at Tennessee. She is also the author of two books, has both the University of Tennessee-Martin and the University of Tennessee basketball courts named for her, as well as having her high school gym bear her name.
Vanderbilt 93, Tennessee 79, Feb. 9…
Signing day celebration at Neyland…
Notre Dame beats Tennessee 72-44…
Scripps Interactive Newspapers Group
Comments » 27
gnm53108 writes:
Congrats Pat.
tnmantravel#531151 writes:
can she produce another run at a national title??
yes, i think she can.
tnmantravel#531151 writes:
also.......
Le Tennessee doit défaire l'UConn-victs
gnm53108 writes:
Atleast.
tenntallguy_29#615180 writes:
do you have one? does your sister have one?
johnlg00#206211 writes:
You kinda lost me in your triple negative. I'm guessing you must be sorta interested or you wouldn't have read the article and posted on it, but I couldn't say that for sure based on what you wrote.
BTW, I have never heard of that school and it doesn't sound like the kind of place that awards earned doctorates, but I'm sure it is an honor and Pat deserves any and all honors she receives.
reachkim00 writes:
The one and only.. Pat Summitt. Congratulations Coach!!!!
GO LADY VOLS!!!!!!!!!
volboy81 writes:
No award is too great for Coach Summitt!
Congratulations, coach!
GO LADY VOLS!!
Ralph_Crampton writes:
She certainly deserves the honor...but Vol fans always want to know what have you done for me lately. The truth is not much...all coaches are really judged by fickle Vol fans just that way. Many think that the game is passing Pat, she no longer can get the top players...her teams look sloppy, and Pat and her teams may be sliding downward. Do I beleive that? Not really, but that kind of talk is on the increase in many circles.
queens2183#661836 writes:
I'd pose the question to those types of fans: where were you when she was winning back to back titles in 2007 and 2008. Honestly all the whisperers and doubters wouldn't have been satisfied even if this year's team had made the Final 4; anything less than a championship for them is unacceptable. I really believe people didn't look at this year for what it was and was always going to be: a true blue rebuilding year. How do you expect a freshman-laden team with injuries and little to no experience to be world beaters; it just doesn't work like that even for a program with the tradition of TN. The recruiting classes were #1 for the last 2 years but without experience on the collegiate level, they were bound to struggle; that's the TRUE nature of the game. Fans need to learn to be patient and that even TN can't overcome losing all 5 starters and having an extremely young and inexperienced team. Although it might not be what TN is used to, to come out 22-11 with all the issues they had and the team they had and considering that they only had 2 bad losses (Ball State and KY), the team did a pretty good job. Look at LSU and Rutgers even. Neither had a better record than TN with LSU being in the same boat coming off of 5 straight Final 4s and Rutgers returning most of their players but still underachieving.
Get a grip, chill out, and try to actually support your team and your coaches b/c they deserve it.
tnmantravel#531151 writes:
this just in......
angie bjorkland, while in practice recently, just dribbled between her legs, then dribbled behind her back, while going absolutely nowhere with the ball. she then passed the ball to a wide open team mate standing near the five second line........
MillisaAnn writes:
Congrats Pat!!! Go Lady Vols!!! :) :) :)
BigRMan writes:
Now Coach Summitt can say what Julius Erving says in the Dr Pepper commercial-"Trust Me, I'm a Doctor"
98reax writes:
While many seek ways of expressing appreciation to a prominent coach who has had an illustrious career, who has been for 34 years an extraordinary mentor while accomplishing a most distinguished record, there are unfortunately some qwerulous toads who wish to impugn such occasions by bringing up a few losses. Shame on you.
reachkim00 writes:
Awesome post queens, thank you.
GO LADY VOLS!!!!!
bmaples writes:
Congrats to Dr. Pat Summitt, the most successful college coach ever. Well deserved honor.
sleiii writes:
"The next year, Summitt won two gold medals with the U.S. World Junior Team and was awarded another gold medal as coach of the U.S. Olympic Team in 1984."
Olympic coaches don't get medals.
CTOWNICON writes:
Have a look at that fantastic resume! This woman is incredible! So many accomplishments, just excellent!
mississippi writes:
You, not Pat, would know about what awards the gay & lesbian association of america are giving out , wouldn't you? Instead of coming onto this site i challenge your PHAT a** to come to my basketball camp for a lesson on respect. You are a classless Moron who needs to get herself a life. Mikey, the gays and straits have both disowned you because they have some class. i now understand why you love to support the Manuer university in connecticut
CTOWNICON writes:
Miss Mike is a tramp! That is all she will ever amount to.
GreyhairedVol writes:
Congrats young lady. You are what UT sports is all about.
You do your job like a pro and it shows on the court.
We need more coaches like you representing this university.
mississippi writes:
i bet ms. mike will retain her title as America UGLIEST WOMAN of the year for the 100th time in a row.
BigRMan writes:
Mikey: Any truth to the rumor that Roto Rooter is using your mouth as a hose to suck out ceptic systems?
98reax writes:
Off Topic - yes, article did not mention such an award.
defamatory - yes, meddling into someone's lifestyle.
obscene, abusive & invasive - yes, absolutely.
I suggested removal of this filth—from—conn. GVX refused to honor their own user agreement. Shame on you, GVX. Why do you allow this vermin to continue posting here?
mississippi writes:
Because 1 vermin looks out for his vermin friends no matter what they do or say!
ladyvolsfaninga writes:
and Geno,uh, i mean, Gena, will be presenting wearing a lovely orange and white ball gown..............
mississippi writes:
Dont make me throw up.
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