Summitt, Pat (1952–)
Summitt, Pat (1952–)
American basketball player and coach. Name variations: Pat Head; Patricia Summitt. Born Patricia Sue Head, June 14, 1952, in Henrietta, TN; dau. of Richard and Hazel (Albright) Head; University of Tennessee at Martin, BS, 1974; University of Tennessee at Knoxville, MA; m. Ralph B. Summitt (bank president), 1980; children: Tyler.
While a student at University of Tennessee-Martin, led Lady Pacers to a 64-29 record over 4 years and had most career points (1,405), most career free throws (361), and most points in a season (530 in 1971–72); at Montreal Olympics, won a silver medal in team competition (1976); coached Olympic gold-medal team (1984); as head coach of University of Tennessee Lady Vols, won 990 games as of Jan 2006, becoming college basketball's winningest coach; won 6 NCAA titles (1987, 1989, 1991, 1996, 1997, 1998) and had appeared in all 25 NCAA tournaments as of 2006. Was the 1st female coach to receive the John Bunn Award given by the Basketball Hall of Fame (1990); inducted into the International Women's Sports Hall of Fame (1990); finished the 1997–1998 season with a perfect 39-0 record and was named coach of the year by Associated Press (1998); inducted into Basketball Hall of Fame (2000); named Naismith College Basketball Women's Coach of the Century (2001).
See also Nancy Lay, The Summitt Season (Leisure Press, 1989); and Women in World History.