Pat Summitt’s 1000 Wins!

Congratulations to Coach Pat Summit on winning her 1000 game last night.  When you stop to think about it, it really is a great accomplishment.  The most wins of any college coach, in men’s or women’s.  The only other coach to win over a 1000 games at one place is Jerry Sloan with the Utah Jazz.  It’s not that she has just been doing it a  long time, it’s that she did it so well.   A 84% winning percentage, 8 NCAA Women’s Championships, 14 SEC Championships.   What a great career!

One thing that I did not know about is the fact that the Lady Vols, since she has  been the head coach, have a 100% graduation rate.  That too, is an unbelievable outstanding accomplishment.  Coach Summit was very gracious in her post game comments, rightly thanking all the players that have played for the Lady Vols, all the people who have coached with her, or worked with her.  And she thanked the great Lady Vol fans, who have backed them.  They have had a great following for years.

I believe Coach Summit has done more for women’s basketball than anyone else.  She was doing great things long before women’s basketball was popular.  Her success at Tennessee brought notoriety to all of women’s basketball, which has led to a greater acceptance of the women’s game.

Congratulations Coach Summit.  You are a class act, and a terrific coach.

Image Source: Sports Illustrated