KNOXVILLE, Tenn (WTVR) – Hall of Fame college basketball coach Pat Summitt announced Wednesday she was stepping down as head women’s basketball coach at the University of Tennessee.
Last year Summitt announced she’d been diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer’s disease. The University of Tennessee said today assistant Holly Warlick would take over the program.
“I’ve loved being the head coach at Tennessee for 38 years, but I recognize that the time has come to move into the future and to step into a new role,” said Summitt. “I support Holly Warlick being named the next head coach, and I want to help ensure the stability of the program going forward. I would like to emphasize that I fully intend to continue working as head coach emeritus, mentoring and teaching life skills to our players, and I will continue my active role as a spokesperson in the fight against Alzheimer’s through the Pat Summitt Foundation Fund.
“If anyone asks, you can find me observing practice or in my office. Coaching is the great passion of my life, and the job to me has always been an opportunity to work with our student-athletes and help them discover what they want. I will continue to make them my passion. I love our players and my fellow coaches, and that’s not going to change.”
Summitt won eight national titles and 1,098 games during her 38 years as head coach of the Lady Vols.
