Sum It Up: A Thousand and Ninety-Eight Victories, a Couple of Irrelevant Losses, and a Life in Perspective

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Sum It Up: A Thousand and Ninety-Eight Victories, a Couple of Irrelevant Losses, and a Life in Perspective Page 40

by Pat Summitt


  BRIDGETTE GORDON, following her graduation, played professionally in Italy, where she was a perennial All-Star and won seven Italian championships and two European Cups (1994 and 1996), before returning home for a two-year stint with the WNBA’s Sacramento Monarchs. She also won an Olympic gold medal. After retirement, she became a college basketball coach. She is currently an assistant at Wichita State under former Lady Vol Jody Adams.

  KELLIE JOLLY HARPER became head coach at Western Carolina in 2004 at the age of just twenty-six. In 2009, she was named head coach at North Carolina State University, where she promptly won twenty games.

  PAT HATMAKER is a captain of security at Oak Ridge National Laboratory.

  DEBRA HAWHEE is a professor of English at Penn State University and a historian of rhetoric. She was named a 2011–2012 Resident Scholar of Penn State’s Institute for the Arts and Humanities.

  CHAMIQUE HOLDSCLAW was the WNBA Rookie of the Year following her graduation from Tennessee in 1999. She has waged a valiant battle against depression throughout her career. In 2012, she wrote an autobiography, Breaking Through: Beating the Odds Shot After Shot, in which she documented her struggles with mental illness, including a suicide attempt. She is currently a mental health advocate for Active Minds, a group that counsels college students who find themselves in emotional trouble.

  ALEXIS HORNBUCKLE was drafted fourth overall by the Detroit Shock in 2008, and in her first WNBA game, she set a franchise record with seven steals while playing just nineteen minutes. She became the first player to win an NCAA title and a WNBA title in the same season. She currently plays for the Phoenix Mercury.

  KARA LAWSON won a WNBA championship with the Sacramento Monarchs in 2005, and in 2008 won a gold medal at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, China. She currently plays for the Connecticut Sun. In addition, she is regarded as one of the brightest young announcing stars on ESPN. On January 12, 2007, she became the first woman to work as a nationwide broadcast analyst for an NBA game.

  MICHELLE MARCINIAK is a nationally recognized young entrepreneur, cofounder of Sheex, a luxury line of bedding and sleepwear.

  CANDACE PARKER became the first WNBA player to win both the Rookie of the Year and the Most Valuable Player awards in the same season for the Los Angeles Sparks in 2008. She missed the first eight games of the 2009 WNBA season after giving birth to her daughter, Lailaa Williams. She has won two straight gold medals with the USA Olympic team.

  JILL RANKIN SCHNEIDER is a member of the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame and a nationally recognized high school basketball coach in Texas. In 2012, she coached the USA women’s under-17 team to a world championship.

  JOY SCRUGGS is a faculty member and basketball coach at Emory and Henry College.

  VONDA WARD was the world heavyweight women’s boxing champion in 2002 and 2003. She retired with a record of 22-1 with seventeen knockouts. She is a personal trainer in Cleveland.

  HOLLY WARLICK, after serving as either a player or an assistant for 949 of Tennessee’s NCAA-record 1,098 wins and all eight NCAA championships, became Tennessee’s head coach in 2012. In addition, Warlick teamed up with former Lady Vols player and assistant Nikki Caldwell, the current head coach at LSU, to establish the Champions for a Cause Foundation, which sponsors a long-haul motorcycle ride dedicated to raising funds and awareness for a cure for breast cancer. They have raised and donated more than $125,000.

  Appendix

  PAT SUMMITT COACHING RECORD SEASON BY SEASON

  SEASON TEAM W-L POSTSEASON

  1974–75 Tennessee 16-8 4th, state

  1975–76 Tennessee 16-11 2nd, state

  1976–77 Tennessee 28-5 AIAW Final Four

  1977–78 Tennessee 27-4 AIAW tourney

  1978–79 Tennessee 30-9 AIAW Final Four

  1979–80 Tennessee 33-5 AIAW Final

  1980–81 Tennessee 25-6 AIAW Final

  1981–82 Tennessee 22-10 NCAA Final Four

  1982–83 Tennessee 25-8 NCAA Regional

  1983–84 Tennessee 23-10 NCAA Final

  1984–85 Tennessee 22-10 NCAA Regional

  1985–86 Tennessee 24-10 NCAA Final Four

  1986–87 Tennessee 28-6 NCAA Champion

  1987–88 Tennessee 31-3 NCAA Final Four

  1988–89 Tennessee 35-2 NCAA Champion

  1989–90 Tennessee 27-6 NCAA Regional

  1990–91 Tennessee 30-5 NCAA Champion

  1991–92 Tennessee 28-3 NCAA Regional

  1992–93 Tennessee 29-3 NCAA Regional

  1993–94 Tennessee 31-2 NCAA Regional

  1994–95 Tennessee 34-3 NCAA Final

  1995–96 Tennessee 32-4 NCAA Champion

  1996–97 Tennessee 29-10 NCAA Champion

  1997–98 Tennessee 39-0 NCAA Champion

  1998–99 Tennessee 31-3 NCAA Regional

  1999–2000 Tennessee 33-4 NCAA Final

  2000–01 Tennessee 31-3 NCAA Regional

  2001–02 Tennessee 29-5 NCAA Final Four

  2002–03 Tennessee 33-5 NCAA Final

  2003–04 Tennessee 31-4 NCAA Final

  2004–05 Tennessee 30-5 NCAA Final Four

  2005–06 Tennessee 31-5 NCAA Regional

  2006–07 Tennessee 34-3 NCAA Champion

  2007–08 Tennessee 36-2 NCAA Champion

  2008–09 Tennessee 22-11 NCAA 1st round

  2009–10 Tennessee 32-3 NCAA Regional

  2010–11 Tennessee 34-3 NCAA Regional

  2011–12 Tennessee 27-9 NCAA Regional

  TOTAL (38 years): 1,098-208 (.840)

  RECORDS AND MILESTONES

  • 1,098 wins, most in NCAA Division I college basketball history by any coach, man or woman

  • Eight-time NCAA champion—1987, ’89, ’91, ’96, ’97, ’98, 2007, and ’08—most in women’s basketball

  • Holds a 112-23 career record in NCAA tournament games

  • Seven-time NCAA Coach of the Year—1983, ’87, ’89, ’94, ’95, ’98, 2004

  • 36 consecutive seasons with 20-plus wins

  • Gold medal winner as coach of 1984 U.S. Olympic team

  • Silver medal winner as a player (cocaptain) on 1976 U.S. Olympic team

  • Graduated from University of Tennessee at Martin in 1974, leaving as the school’s all-time leading scorer with 1,045 points

  • Inducted into five halls of fame—Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame, Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame, Women’s Sports Foundation Hall of Fame, Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame, and Tennessee Women’s Hall of Fame

  • Most seasons coached in NCAA/AIAW play without a losing record (38, lost more than nine games in a season only six times and more than ten games in a season only twice)

  • Most consecutive NCAA/AIAW postseason appearances (38, never missed a tournament)

  • Most number one seeds in NCAA Division I postseason play (20)

  • Most wins as an NCAA/AIAW Division I basketball head coach (1,098; in second place is Mike Krzyzewski with 927 wins)

  • Most wins in NCAA postseason play (112)

  • Most NCAA Final Four appearances (18, six more than John Wooden, who holds the men’s records)

  • Most NCAA/AIAW championship game appearances (15)

  • Most 20-win seasons in NCAA/AIAW play (36, all consecutive seasons)

  • Most 30-win seasons in NCAA/AIAW play (20)

  HONORS

  2000 Named the Naismith Basketball Coach of the Century

  2008 ESPY Award for Best Coach of the Year; award encompasses all sports, college and professional

  2009 Named to Sporting News’s list of the 50 greatest coaches of all time (MLB, NBA, NFL, NHL, college basketball, and college football)

  2011 Named Sports Illustrated’s Sportsman of the Year (shared with Duke University men’s basketball coach Mike Krzyzewski)

  2012 Awarded the 2012 Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Barack Obama; Arthur Ashe Courage Award, ESPYs

  ALL-TIME TENNESSEE LADY VOLS UNDER COACH PAT HEAD SUMMITT

  Jody Ada
ms 1989–1993

  Nicky Anosike 2004–2008

  Alberta Auguste 2006–2008

  Lauren Avant 2010–2011

  Suzanne Barbre 1974–1978

  Briana Bass 2008–2012

  Vicki Baugh 2007–2012

  Angie Bjorklund 2007–2011

  Shannon Bobbitt 2006–2008

  Cindy Boggs 1974–1975

  Fonda Bondurant 1975–1977

  Sherry Bostic 1984–1986

  Nancy Bowman 1972–1975

  Gina Bozeman 1981

  Diane Brady 1973–1975

  Alyssa Brewer 2008–2011

  Cindy Brogdon 1977–1979

  Cierra Burdick 2011–present

  Niya Butts 1996–2000

  Tasha Butts 2000–2004

  Kelley Cain 2007–2011

  Nikki Caldwell 1990–1994

  Sonya Cannon 1981–1985

  Abby Canon 2004–2005

  Amanda Canon 1998–2002

  Tamara Carver 1990–1991

  Kelli Casteel 1988–1992

  Tamika Catchings 1997–2001

  Lesia Cecil 1985–1986

  Daedra Charles 1988–1991

  Becky Clark 1979–1980

  Regina Clark 1988–1992

  Kristen “Ace” Clement 1997–2001

  Susan Clower 1978–1982

  Lynne Collins 1980–1984

  Shelia Collins 1981–1985

  Abby Conklin 1993–1997

  Pam Cook 1982–1983

  Elizabeth Curry 2006–2007

  Bev Curtis 1979

  Latina Davis 1992–1996

  LaToya Davis 2000–2004

  Susie Davis 1976–1979

  Freda DeLozier 1975

  Rochone Dilligard 1991–1994

  Gail Dobson 1971–1975

  Sybil Dosty 2004–2005

  Faith Dupress 2009–2010

  Kris Durham 1987–1989

  Sarah Edwards 1998–2001

  Tonya Edwards 1986–1990

  Cindy Ely 1977–1981

  Shyra Ely 2001–2005

  Kyra Elzy 1996–2001

  Peggy Evans 1990–1993

  Sherri Fancher 1976–1979

  Tye’sha Fluker 2002–2005

  Susan Foulds 1979–1981

  Valerie Freeman 1983–1985

  Sheila Frost 1985–1989

  Alex Fuller 2004–2009

  Amy Gamble 1983–1984

  Marci Garner 1974–1976

  Teresa Geter 1997–1999

  Bridgette Gordon1985–1989

  Liza Graves 1975–1978

  Amber Gray 2008–2012

  Kathie Greene 1975–1976

  Misty Greene 1995–1998

  Debbie Groover 1977–1981

  Aubrey Guastalli 2004–2005

  Tanya Haave 1980–1984

  Leanne Hance 1977–1978

  Jerilynn Harper 1978–1979

  Isabelle Harrison 2011—present

  Lisa Harrison 1989–1993

  Pat Hatmaker 1980–1984

  Debbie Hawhee 1988–1992

  Dena Head 1988–1992

  Lea Henry 1979–1983

  Chamique Holdsclaw 1995–1999

  Alexis Hornbuckle 2004–2008

  Karla Horton 1984–1987

  Brittany Jackson 2001–2005

  Gwen Jackson 1999–2003

  Marlene Jeter 1990–1992

  Dana Johnson 1991–1995

  Glory Johnson 2008–2012

  Michelle Johnson 1993–1995

  Tiffani Johnson 1994–1997

  Kellie Jolly 1995–1999

  Janice Koehler 1974–1976

  Tammy Larkey 1981–1983

  Kara Lawson 1999–2003

  Brynae Laxton 1995–1998

  Cheryl Littlejohn 1983–1987

  Alicia Manning 2008–2012

  Michelle Marciniak 1993–1996

  Pam Marr 1982–1986

  Dawn Marsh 1984–1988

  Ariel Massengale 2011–present

  Melissa McCray 1985–1989

  Nikki McCray 1991–1995

  Courtney McDaniel 2000–2004

  April McDivitt 1999–2002

  Carla McGhee 1986–1990

  Lisa McGill 1976–1979

  Cait McMahan 2006–2009

  Laurie Milligan 1994–1998

  Nicci Moats 2006–2007

  Zandra Montgomery 1977–1979

  Loree Moore 2001–2005

  Pearl Moore 1987–1990

  Tasheika Morris 1990–2000

  Karen Morton 1982–1983

  Lindsey Moss 2005–2006

  Sabrina Mott 1986–1987

  Michelle Munoz 2001–2002

  Cindy Noble 1978–1981

  Kathy O’Neil 1976–1980

  Mary Ostrowski 1980–1984

  Candace Parker 2004–2008

  Jane Pemberton 1975–1976

  Shalon Pillow 1998–2002

  Semeka Randall 1997–2001

  Jill Rankin 1979–1980

  Linda Ray 1981–1985

  Dominique Redding 2003–2007

  Emily Roberts 1976–1977

  Patricia Roberts 1976–1977

  Ashley Robinson 2000–2004

  Debbie Scott 1988–1990

  Joy Scruggs 1971–1975

  Jan Seay 1977–1978

  Shelley Sexton 1983–1987

  Meighan Simmons 2010–present

  Sydney Smallbone 2007–2011

  Kim Smallwood 1995–1996

  Melissa Smith 1989–1990

  Tanika Smith 1993–1995

  Michelle Snow 1998–2002

  Kristie Snyder 1983–1984

  Taber Spani 2009–present

  Sydney Spencer 2003–2007

  Kathy Spinks 1984–1988

  LaShonda Stephens 1996–2000

  Shekinna Stricklen 2008–2012

  Sue Thomas 1974–1977

  Pashen Thompson 1993–1997

  Mina Todd 1980–1981

  Paula Towns 1980–1984

  Gay Townson 1986–1987

  Jennifer Tuggle 1984–1988

  Vonda Ward 1991–1995

  Holly Warlick 1976–1980

  Jackie Watson 1974–1977

  Lisa Webb 1983–1988

  Sa’de Wiley-Gatewood 2004–2005

  Kamiko Williams 2009–present

  Tiffany Woosley 1991–1995

  Shanna Zolman 2002–2006

  Acknowledgments

  Writing a memoir with Alzheimer’s disease is an unlikely undertaking. Fortunately, there was abundant documentary material to draw on, primarily three lengthy sets of interviews between the coauthors of this book. The first two took place in 1997 and 1998, the voluminous tapes and notes of which still exist. The third occurred during the season of 2011–2012, as I dealt with the diagnosis and the task of trying to coach with the disease.

  No one sees one’s life wholly, even under the best circumstances. I’m therefore grateful to all the family and friends who rounded out my memories with their own and reminded me of things I’d forgotten. My mother, Hazel; my sister, Linda; and my brothers, Tommy, Charles, and Kenneth, and their spouses helped me revisit my youth in Henrietta, Tennessee, and I thank them for that, and for their sustaining devotion to our family.

  Many former Tennessee Lady Vols shared their recollections graciously, hilariously, and forgivingly. The omission of names or events is in no way reflective of their importance to me—if I included them all, this book would have numbered thousands of pages. I could write a separate chapter about each and every Lady Vol and care for them equally.

  Tennessee’s current and former coaches Mickie DeMoss, Holly Warlick, Nancy Darsch, Dean Lockwood, Nikki Caldwell, Carolyn Peck, Jane Albright, and Al Brown literally lived these pages. Their loyalty and friendship survived every high and low and would have been worth the journey without a single championship. Thanks also to Billie Moore, to Bill Wall, and to all those coaches who shaped me in some way, none more so than our opponents, especially Jod
y Conradt, Vivian Stringer, Leon Barmore, Tara VanDerveer, Melanie Balcomb, Kim Mulkey, Joe Ciampi, Sharon Fanning, Nell Fortner, Sonja Hogg, Andy Landers, Theresa Grentz, Debbie Ryan, Gail Goestenkors, Carol Ross, and Wendy Larry. I wish Kay Yow and Sue Gunter were here to thank. I’m especially grateful to those who were kind enough to share their thoughts in formal interviews for the book: Marynell Meadors, Lin Dunn, Sylvia Rhyne Hatchell, and Geno Auriemma.

  I owe the administrators and faculty at the University of Tennessee past and present, in particular my longtime friend Joan Cronan, four decades’ worth of affection and gratitude. I owe the same to all those on our support staff: the many people who worked in operations, academic support, sports medicine, and strength and training, who contributed so much to our success for so little credit. Kathy Harston in particular made it possible for me to continue working these last couple of years. To the donors who supported us through the years, I can only express my profound thank-you by saying, “Look what you built.”

  Deepest thanks go to my old pal Jane Brown Clark for her many stories and pictures. And to the sisters of the Chi Omega house, particularly Esther Stubblefield Hubbard, Carla Witherington, and Mary Margaret Carter, for their long-standing friendship and steadfastness.

  To all the doctors who have cared for me, consulted with me, and aided me, thanks to you I’m still standing.

  Without the institutional memory, crack research, and devoted efforts of Debby Jennings, there would simply be no book. The same is true of the invaluable personal assistance of Katie Wynn and LaTina Haynes. During the writing of it, my friends Adam Waller and Danielle Donehew not only managed to help with some of these pages but also launched the Pat Summitt Foundation.

  I am indebted to Tina Constable of Crown for her belief in this undertaking, and to Mauro DiPreta for his superb editing, and his care and patience in seeing it onto the page, and to Jessica Wallin for her help with anything and everything. I’m also thankful for the support and friendship of Esther Newberg of ICM on the project, as well as Tammy Blake, David Drake, and Meredith McGinnis at Crown.

 

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