A Story About Pat Summitt

Pat Summitt is a basketball icon.

Pat Summitt was appointed head coach of Tennessee’s women’s basketball team in 1974 when she was 22 and known then as Pat Head. Two years later Pat Head was the co-captain of the USA Woman’s National Basketball Team that featured two of the greatest woman’s basketball players and woman’s basketball trailblazers Debbie Meyer and Nancy Lieberman

PSR had occasion to see Ms. Head and that team in action at an Olympic Qualifying Tournament prior to the 1976 Olympics in Montreal. The event was not attended by throngs of people – maybe 50 people at the game seen by PSR. PSR was at that game see the heralded Ms. Meyer and soon to be legendary Ms. Lieberman and the rest of that team and because PSR was an elite basketball player and hoops junkie.

1976 USA Women’s National Basketball Team

PHOTO USA BASKETBALL

(Pat Head Summitt – back row third from the right; Debbie Meyer-front row, second from right; Nancy Lieberman- front row first kneeling)

Ms. Head was an accomplished player at the University of Tennessee-Martin as she is the women’s all time leading scorer with 1, 045 points. So by no means was Ms. Head out of her depth on the US National Team.

On that day the USA team came in with an earlier game in process. The team was dressed in their warm ups and sat 15 feet from PSR. So they gals were in a close and plain view for PSR. Ms. Meyer was easily identifiable because of her notoriety and because she resemble her brother – former UCLA hoops star, top NBA draft pick, former NBA player and once traded for Kareem Abdul Jabbar, David Meyers (who PSR spoke with in the lobby to provide some tips about local eating establishments close to their hotel). While PSR was casually looking at the gals on the team, one gal was – if you pardon the expression – giving PSR ‘the eye’. With a lot of humility, PSR did cut a handsome, dashing figure at the time. The gal checking out PSR was, as later determined, Ms. Head.

PSR did not know who Ms. Head was at the time – other than she was a hoops player and a cutie pie – but saw in the program that Ms. Head was the co-captain. Now being the elite athlete – in two sports – PSR knew that being co-captain meant several things, not the least of which meant that the person is a stud player respected by teammates and team coaches. This was no small beer since the team included both Ms. Meyer and Ms. Lieberman. PSR would be giving Ms. Head the eye during the game and paying attention to her game.

Well, Ms. Head did not disappoint at all. Ms. Head showed all of her hoop skills and person skills right from warm-ups. No one hustled more than Ms. Pat Head. Ms. Head busted big time right from the beginning during layups and exhorted teammates right from the start. She was tenacious. Ms. Head played well, scored points, and was very vocal during the game – a true leader. It was clear and evident why Ms. Head was the co-captain and starter on that team.

The US team won the gold medal at the tournament and went on to win the silver medal at the Olympics that year. Ms. Meyer and Ms. Lieberman continued on with their basketball careers and both gained significant notoriety for being drafted/signed by NBA teams.

For Ms. Head, she headed back to the University of Tennessee to embark on a coaching career that is almost unparalleled. At that time the budget for women’s basketball was buttons and Ms. Head was the coach, trainer, manager, and van driver for the team. Over the next 38 years Pat Head Summitt coached Tennessee to 8 National Championships, 16 SEC regular season titles and SEC Tournament titles. Ms. Head/Mrs. Summitt amassed and incredible 1,098 – 208 record (.841 winning percentage) – MORE WINS THAN ANY MEN’S OR WOMEN’S COACH IN NCAA DIVISION 1 HISTORY; with over 20 wins per season for 36 years; and was SEC coach of  the year 8 times and NCAA coach of the year 7 times. A member of the women’s basketball Hall of Fame. And much more.  A remarkable record in any sport by any coach.

Ms. Head/Mrs. Summitt’s greatness extended off the court as well as her players had a 100 % graduation rate – unprecedented compared to the men’s ranks – and she personally donated $ 600,000 to the University of Tennessee to support the women’s basketball programs at the Knoxville and Martin campuses. Ms. Head/Mrs. Summitt became a leader in the fight to find a cure for Alzheimer’s, launching the Pat Summitt Foundation in 2011 In 2012 Ms. Head/Mrs. Summitt received the Presidential Medal of Freedom in for her accomplishments and efforts on and off the court.

PSR could see from the brief viewing of Ms. Head at that tournament that the fire in her burned hot and strong and that she obviously loved the game of basketball. With the tenacity she showed then, it would be no surprise to see, over the years, the accomplishments pile up. PSR was truly fortunate to have the opportunity to see a future greatness and a true champion.

Pat Head Summitt was a special person and her legacy will burn bright, long and as strong as the fire within her.

PSR Commentary – June 28, 2016