July 14, 2016
Dear Pat,
I was a sophomore at Appalachian State when I met you in 1975. After your team had beaten us we shook hands in line. You smiled and told me your mother's maiden name was Albright. I knew then I wanted to work for you and learn what you had to say (Still, I have to mention that the following year, we DID beat your Lady Vols, a huge moment for our Mountaineers!). Five years later, when I was a high school coach, I drove over to your office and waited on you to go to lunch, asking if you had a graduate assistant position. You said to wait until the following spring and get in touch, you didn't know if you would have an opening. That spring you called and said you had hired someone else. I was devastated as I had thought for six years that it was His plan to work for you. After three weeks though you called back, told me that hire didn't work out, and asked if I would like to come work for you. That opportunity in 1981, changed my life, and I am forever grateful for all the doors you opened for me.
For two years, I marveled at your work ethic, your ability to teach, and your competitive spirit. You taught me every day by words and example about this great game and how to be a coach. Those two seasons, though 36 years ago, changed my life. The first NCAA Final Four was held in 1982 and our team made it. But I remember more vividly the two tongue lashings I got from you and the friendship that began forming. I can never thank you enough. You were my friend.
Hundreds of columns have been written about you and how you changed the world of women's basketball and the wisdom you gave us all. I have read some great stories of the enormous influence you have had on countless many. But what I remember is the time after you won the gold medal in 1988, thinking you were in New York City at the parade. I was surprised when I answered the phone and it was you. You decided to skip it and come home to Knoxville. You said you had tomatoes to be canned. You were always so down to earth and never left your roots.
Thank you for pouring into my professional life. You brought your teams to Northern Illinois and to Wisconsin to beat mine, and you told me what we needed to work on after you did it. When my team was struggling at Wichita State, you asked if I wanted to bring my staff to Knoxville and you and your staff spent a couple days on the court teaching us, showing us your stuff. You always cooked for my friends and you sent happy meals for my dogs. I believe the only time I ever saw you get rattled was when you weren't sure you had the best snacks for Tyler's soccer game. Yes, that was very stressful.
Today I am with my team and I won't be at the celebration of your life, but I will forever celebrate you by working hard, teaching, and striving to win. I am entering my 33rd year as a Division I head coach thanks to you taking a chance on a 28 year old back when only 1-in-27 females participated in sports. Since then the number of women playing at the college level has jumped more than 600 percent, and I know you had a severely strong impact on that. And one last thing: WE, the women's basketball family, will get you win No. 1099. We will help your foundation raise the funds and together we will BEAT ALZHEIMERS. You told me that would be your biggest victory.
I love you.
Jane
"The game of women's basketball is forever in debt to Pat Summitt. The vision she had for our sport was incredible and she was able to take the women's game to a new level. Her passion and work ethic were unmatched and I am extremely grateful for the platform she has set for women in our game." - Nevada assistant coach, Janet Butler
"Pat Summitt's success at Tennessee was one of the first glimpses of women's college basketball for me. She showed me that a farm kid from a small town could impact people beyond a sport but in life as well." - Nevada junior Halie Bergman
"I first met Pat Summitt when I was working at Arizona State University, and she agreed to bring her team to play in the AstraZeneca Hoops for the Cure Classic in 2000, the first outdoor game in women's college basketball history. I was so impressed that she would bring her legendary team - one that had just advanced to the NCAA championship game the year before and had such lofty goals again for the upcoming season - to Phoenix in December to play a game where elements like wind and rain and depth perception from playing in a baseball stadium could come into play. But her willingness to do that and to accommodate the countless requests that we made of her and her team showed her understanding of how important it was to promote the game of women's basketball and to raise money and awareness for such an important cause. It also showed her competitiveness, determination and confidence to take on all challenges and to succeed at the highest level. I think Christine Brennan of USA Today said it best when she wrote that every girl and woman who plays sports owes Pat Summitt a thank you. So I simply say thank you Pat, thank you for everything you did for the sport of women's basketball and thank you for modeling the class, grace, toughness, concern for student-athletes and passion that those of us who are privileged to work in college athletics should strive to achieve each and every day." - Nevada Senior Associate Athletics Director/SWA, Rhonda Bennett
"Growing up in the Midwest I was a big fan of Candace Parker and the Tennessee Lady Vols. Pat changed the game of basketball and inspired a lot of young women to play the game." - Nevada senior Stephanie Schmid
"I was more deeply saddened than usual about Pat Summitt's transition for a few reasons. I was fortune on a couple occasions to meet Coach Summitt and it was an impactful occurrence. My first experience was as a color analyst for WHA-TV when I interviewed Coach Summitt before they played at Wisconsin. I met her during her pre-game practice time and she graciously accepted with, "anything for one of Jane's players." I was stunned she even knew who I was. After a few questions about the matchup with Wisconsin I paused to talk about her practice. It was remarkably loud with the players almost yelling every move they made on the floor. This was impressive given most practices I attend, the bounce of the basketballs are the dominate sound. I politely inquired how she was able to get her players to talk so fervently and she simply replied, "They know what's expected." That ended the interview and I knew without further explanation what she meant. My second encounter was at a Final Four convention when I started my D1 coaching career. She was with a group of friends and had a different persona than at practice. She was laughing, sharing stories and having a great relaxing conversation. I was awed that with her level of intensity she could appear fun-loving. Coach Summitt embodied the totality of the greatness in competitive spirit to meaningful relationships. Her leadership evolved over time with relevance and excellence to succeed in ways no one else could imitate. I love how she changed the game and she changed with the game. Her legacy lives on through every bounce of the ball." - Nevada associate head coach, Camille Williams
"Thank you to the one who lit the fire in so many females that we too could compete on every platform. We are all held to a higher standard thanks to Pat Summitt." - Nevada assistant coach, Kami Malnaa
"The last year I played at Nevada for Coach Jane was a bit of a tough year for me. I lost my grandfather when we were in season. I was devastated and fell into a slump with basketball. Coach Jane tried to talk me out of it and tell me the significance of that year and how I needed better stats to go pro but I just couldn't shake off the slump. So, Coach ended up asking her longtime friend, the AMAZING Pat Summitt to call me and talk to me to get motivation. On the day she called, Coach Jane told me NOT to miss her call but it was finals week and I was in the library. I went to pick up something I had printed off and while I was gone I missed her call! To say I was scared, upset, sad was an understatement. In my head all I could think was, 'who misses Pas Summitt's phone call?' She did end up leaving a voice mail to call her back, which I did, and what she said in those five minutes that we spoke forever changed me. She was so straight forward and full of wisdom, it's probably in my top three most amazing moments in life. I was bummed I missed her phone call but on the plus side I did end up getting a voice mail that I still have to this day!!!" - Nevada graduate assistant and former player, Tahnee Robinson
