Not even Pat Summitt, the University of Tennessee women’s basketball coach who announced this week that she has been diagnosed with early onset dementia, has been completely insulated from controversy in her 38-year career.
Summitt’s violations, particularly in comparison to the lawlessness dominating the football headlines this summer, have been minor. There was a secondary violation regarding a newspaper photo with a recruit in 2009, and the offhand remark in 2010 that she was aware of UConn committing recruiting violations.
Still, in stark contrast to most of her colleagues, when questioned about the incidents Summitt usually addresses them head-on. In most cases, she has admitted to her mistakes, although her bluntness has put people off.
There’s a lot of consistency in the way she has addressed those setbacks and the way she is taking on her current health condition. She’s not running. In her comments to close friend Sally Jenkins of the Washington Post, Summitt is staring the illness in the face and preparing to handle it in her own way: With sternness and ironic humor.
“I’ve forgotten I have it,” she told Jenkins.
Some are worried Summitt may damage her legacy if she makes a crucial error on the sideline during a big game, but those worries forget all that Summitt has brought to the game of women’s basketball. Summitt belongs to the class of legendary coaches who deserve to go out — or stick around — on their terms. Penn State football has only competed in three major bowls since 1994 under Joe Paterno. Temple failed to make the NCAA Tournament the final five years of John Chaney‘s tenure. Someday, Duke is likely to have a run of down years under Mike Krzyzewski, and he will deserve a long leash from fans. Summitt’s condition does not wipe away 38 years of achievement.
Summitt was an inspirational figure long before her battle with rheumatoid arthritis and now the beginning of Alzheimer’s. Even the UConn faithful have to admit (hopefully) that among all the men’s and women’s Division I basketball coaches, Summitt may stand above them all.
The battery of mental tests Summitt took at the Mayo Clinic to determine the extent of her illness brought back bad news, clinically. But those tests have at least one fatal flaw.
“They didn’t test for leadership,” her son, Tyler Summitt, told Jenkins. “They didn’t test for relationships. They didn’t test for basketball IQ. None of those things are on the test. It was just math problems. They asked questions she wouldn’t know on a regular basis. So I don’t think the test applies to what she does as a coach.”
Summitt reportedly will cut back on her coaching duties. Her longtime assistants can call plays, direct substitutions and run practices.
Sumitt plans to keep coaching, teaching her players the game and teaching the rest of us how to face a challenge.
“I just want them to understand that this is what I’m going through, but you don’t quit living,” she said. “You keep going.”
