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Happy Friday! In honor of Black History Month, we are kicking it off with stories from the greatest coach of all time, Pat Summitt.

"We Back Pat" week in the SEC may have ended, but Pat Summitt's impact on college basketball and the Lady Vols persists. She's our John Wooden, as LSU’s Kim Mulkey noted, and her legacy is irreplaceable.

Today we’re diving into 5 life-improving key points inspired by the late, great, Patricia Sue Head Summitt. Let’s go! 👇️ 

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TODAY’S STORY
💥PAT SUMMITT

WHO IS PAT SUMMITT

[cue Rocky Top by the Osborne Brothers]

Pat Summit, a Tennessee legend and a trailblazer in college basketball, started her coaching journey at the University of Tennessee in 1974. Her coaching career is no small feat either with a winning rate of 84%.

But that didn’t come so easily.

Pat Summitt took over a program at just 22 years old with only 4 players.

Pat's basketball story began much earlier, when she was celebrated as the "Basketball Sweetheart of the Season" and the "Most Popular" figure in her school's 1970 yearbook. Her basketball prowess continued to shine as she played for the University of Tennessee-Martin, earning the titles of All-American and the university's all-time leading scorer with an impressive 1,045 points.

She earned both her bachelor's and master's degrees in physical education from UT-Knoxville, represented her country as a member of the silver medal-winning 1976 U.S. Olympic team, and coached the 1984 Olympic team to a gold medal.

#1: THERE’S A SOLUTION FOR EVERYTHING

Pat Summitt had her fair share of encounters with law enforcement as someone who enjoyed driving over the speed limits.

Pat had a well-thought-out plan for these traffic stops. She would place her purse in the trunk of her car, so when an officer requested her driver's license, she would have to step out of her car, open the trunk, and retrieve her purse.

However, the trunk wasn't just filled with personal belongings; it was stocked with basketballs, each bearing a one-of-a-kind, Pat Summit signature.

Seeing the signed basketballs, officers would often request one as a keepsake. Instead of receiving a ticket, Pat would receive a friendly warning about her driving habits.

Even in the most minor inconveniences, Pat always had a plan. A clever plan at that. While most of us can’t get away with a trunk full of signed basketballs, it underscores the importance of having a plan, even for minor and unexpected situations.

#2: DEALING WITH PAIN IN SECRET

Pat Summitt never allowed her personal struggles and health issues to overshadow her incredible achievements.

In 2005, Pat experienced grief when her father, Richard Head, passed away. Then, in 2008, she went through a difficult divorce from R.B. Summitt after 27 years of marriage.

Keep in mind, in the midst of this, Pat and Tennessee had just won, what would turn out to be her 8th and final NCAA National Championship.

On top of these emotional struggles, Pat was silently battling rheumatoid arthritis, a condition she concealed from the public for years, and it took a considerable toll on her physical health.

What made Pat Summitt remarkable was her ability to shield these personal hardships from the public eye. On television screens, where women's basketball games were rarely featured, audiences saw a stoic, intense, and passionate Pat Summitt. Behind this facade, she silently endured her personal battles.

Pat continued to lead and inspire, especially for the fans of the sport, demonstrating unparalleled strength and resilience. Pat Summitt's story is a testament to the quiet battles that many, many coaches often face, hidden behind their public personas, while still achieving remarkable success.

It's stories like Pat's that make you question why you're tipping your local coffee barista for the bare minimum when there are people like her in the world. I would’ve tipped Pat if I could have!

#3: FINDING YOUR AVENUE IN LIFE

During Pat’s Hall of Fame Induction Speech, Pat says, "I think God's plan for Pat was somehow I needed to make a difference for young women, and my avenue hopefully was the right avenue, and that's through the game of basketball, and I do love it, and it's loved me back."

At the age of 22, Pat thought she’d be walking into Tennessee’s coaching staff as an assistant coach. As fate would have it, the Head Coach decided to take a sabbatical, ultimately placing the fate of Tennessee’s program in Pat’s hands where her legendary career began.

But, she only had 4 players.

Pat’s resourcefulness knew no bounds. She strategically placed tryout flyers on campus, searched for graduate students to work as volunteer assistant coaches, mastered ankle taping (though some players still bear the memories), and took on tasks like washing uniforms and driving the team van to away games.

All this on a salary of $250/month.

Yet, despite all these challenges, Pat persevered.

Her unwavering determination and dedication, coupled with her ability to find her calling in coaching and make a meaningful impact on others' lives, affirm that she was indeed fulfilling her divine purpose, touching the lives of countless young women through the game of basketball.

#4: BEHIND CLOSED DOORS

The fierce rivalry between Pat Summitt and the Lady Vols and Geno Auriemma and the Connecticut Huskies provided some of the best moments in sports history. Yet, beyond the on-court competition, there was more to these coaches than the rest of the world witnessed.

As rumors swirled about their supposed feud, what struck a chord with me was a gesture of genuine kindness from Pat towards Geno's daughter, Alysa Auriemma. Despite the intense rivalry, Pat reached out to Alysa after learning of her interest in attending the University of Tennessee.

This was essentially the biggest sin you could commit if you were a UConn fan, let alone the daughter of the Head Coach.

Months after UConn's victory over Tennessee in the 1995 national title game, Pat called the Auriemma household and left a message specifically for the then-11-year-old Alysa. Alysa had been discussing Tennessee as her ideal college destination, and the call from Pat Summitt left her both ecstatic and anxious because, well, you know…her dad was the Head Coach at UConn and all.

As Alysa recalls, ‘“our 'mortal enemy,' was on my answering machine, addressing me by name, saying in a quite cheerful voice, "I hear you like orange!" Benedict Arnold didn't have anything on me. I began picturing my funeral."‘

It was a moment that showed the depth of Pat's character, transcending the rivalry and emphasizing the importance of genuine connections in life outside of the game.

#5: “LEFT FOOT RIGHT FOOT BREATHE”

When Pat was diagnosed with early onset dementia, she initially experienced anger, tears, and sadness - a natural reaction.

However, she embodied her own mantra: "Left foot, right foot, breathe." 

This mantra served as her guiding light through adversity, offering a valuable reminder for us all.

Regardless of the challenges we encounter, the key is to keep moving forward and continue breathing.

Thanks Pat!

Relevant articles from today’s story

👉️ Pat Summitt Foundation

👉️ There Goes Our Friend, Pat Summitt’s Celebration of Life (247 Sports)

👉️ Legendary Tennessee coach Pat Summitt dies at 64 (USA Today)

👉️ Pat Head Summitt’s Basketball Hall of Fame Enshrinement Speech (YouTube)

👉️ Geno Auriemma’s daughter writes a heartfelt tribute to Pat Summitt (Yahoo Sports)

⚡️ SPOTLIGHT

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