Pat Summitt one of the greatest coaches to ever live has won numerous awards throughout her 38 seasons as head coach of the Tennessee Lady Volunteers. She has been inducted into multiple halls of fame, including the
Basketball Hall of Fame in 2000 (Pat Summitt). Located in Springfield, Massachusetts it contains 305 individuals and eight teams. This honor is only bestowed upon the best of the game. To be considered for nomination a player must be retired from play for at least five years and a coach must be retired for at least five years or actively full time coaching on either of the three levels for at least 25 years. Once one has passed this criterion an individual may be considered for nomination and then goes through a series of votes throughout the six committees. In the year 2000 Summitt, Morgan B. Wooten, Daniel Biasone, and Charles Martin Newton were inducted into the Hall (Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame).
In 1997 her alma mater, Tennessee Martin honored Coach Summitt by naming their basketball court and a street after her. On the campus there is a Pat Head Summitt Avenue and the home court of the Pacers is now named Pat Head Summitt Court. The weekend of November 23, 1997 was spent bestowing these honors upon Summitt, but when the inaugural game was played on the newly named court the Lady Vols showed no mercy in the 73-32 victory (UT Lady Vols).
One year later, 1998, was a huge year for Coach Summitt and her team, not only did she win her sixth national title, she was awarded her fourth Associated Press Coach of the Year award. This honor is given to the coach who is voted best by the associated press for the previous season. That same year she was also awarded the USBWA coach of the year award and the John and Nellie Wooden award. Additionally, she won her third SEC coach of the year award, Naismith College Coach of the Year and was named Coach of the Year by the Touchdown Club in Columbus, Ohio. 1998 was a huge year for the Vols too, who won back-to-back-to-back titles and Coach Summitt was awarded six for Coach of the Year awards (Pat Summitt).
Basketball Hall of Fame in 2000 (Pat Summitt). Located in Springfield, Massachusetts it contains 305 individuals and eight teams. This honor is only bestowed upon the best of the game. To be considered for nomination a player must be retired from play for at least five years and a coach must be retired for at least five years or actively full time coaching on either of the three levels for at least 25 years. Once one has passed this criterion an individual may be considered for nomination and then goes through a series of votes throughout the six committees. In the year 2000 Summitt, Morgan B. Wooten, Daniel Biasone, and Charles Martin Newton were inducted into the Hall (Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame).
In 1997 her alma mater, Tennessee Martin honored Coach Summitt by naming their basketball court and a street after her. On the campus there is a Pat Head Summitt Avenue and the home court of the Pacers is now named Pat Head Summitt Court. The weekend of November 23, 1997 was spent bestowing these honors upon Summitt, but when the inaugural game was played on the newly named court the Lady Vols showed no mercy in the 73-32 victory (UT Lady Vols).
One year later, 1998, was a huge year for Coach Summitt and her team, not only did she win her sixth national title, she was awarded her fourth Associated Press Coach of the Year award. This honor is given to the coach who is voted best by the associated press for the previous season. That same year she was also awarded the USBWA coach of the year award and the John and Nellie Wooden award. Additionally, she won her third SEC coach of the year award, Naismith College Coach of the Year and was named Coach of the Year by the Touchdown Club in Columbus, Ohio. 1998 was a huge year for the Vols too, who won back-to-back-to-back titles and Coach Summitt was awarded six for Coach of the Year awards (Pat Summitt).
The next year Summitt would be enshrined in the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame. Located in Knoxville, Tennessee it is home, not only to the only Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame that honors all three levels, but also has the largest basketball in the world. In 1999 the hall opened and Summitt along with twenty-four other coaches and players of the game were insrined in the hall. To receive this honor a coach must have coached the women’s game for at least 20 years (Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame). That same year she won the ARETE award for Courage in Sports. This award is given to the individual in basketball that has overcome numerous obstacles (Pat Summitt Biography).
In the early 2000’s the Lady Volunteers and their coach were often honored. In 2000 they won ESPY team of the decade. The Excellence in Sports Performance Yearly Award is presented by ESPN every year to honor teams and individuals who have demonstrated excellence in the previous year. The Lady Volunteer teams during the 90’s were awarded this honor for their four national championships, three of them consecutively, setting high standards for the next team of the decade (ESPY’S). On January 14, 2003 Coach Summitt reached a total of 800 victories becoming the first woman and first women’s coach to do so (Pat Summitt). The next year Summitt would coach her 1000th game. This feat would once again bring her to the ceremonies for SEC Coach of the Year and Naismith Coach of the Year. Then on March 22, 2005 Summitt would rank up 880 total wins to break Dean Smith’s record and become the number one division one coach in all-time wins. After the game the University of Tennessee honored her with a surprise post-game ceremony naming the basketball court “The Summitt”. Later on that year she would reach 900 total wins (UT Lady Vols).
Four years later in 2009 she would become choked thanking a crowd of 16,058 for their support throughout her long career, after her 1000th total win over Georgia (Dillard, Mechelle). These awards and achievements not only represent everything that Coach Summitt and her teams have worked for in 37 seasons, but make Summitt one of the greatest coaches in the history of the game.
In the early 2000’s the Lady Volunteers and their coach were often honored. In 2000 they won ESPY team of the decade. The Excellence in Sports Performance Yearly Award is presented by ESPN every year to honor teams and individuals who have demonstrated excellence in the previous year. The Lady Volunteer teams during the 90’s were awarded this honor for their four national championships, three of them consecutively, setting high standards for the next team of the decade (ESPY’S). On January 14, 2003 Coach Summitt reached a total of 800 victories becoming the first woman and first women’s coach to do so (Pat Summitt). The next year Summitt would coach her 1000th game. This feat would once again bring her to the ceremonies for SEC Coach of the Year and Naismith Coach of the Year. Then on March 22, 2005 Summitt would rank up 880 total wins to break Dean Smith’s record and become the number one division one coach in all-time wins. After the game the University of Tennessee honored her with a surprise post-game ceremony naming the basketball court “The Summitt”. Later on that year she would reach 900 total wins (UT Lady Vols).
Four years later in 2009 she would become choked thanking a crowd of 16,058 for their support throughout her long career, after her 1000th total win over Georgia (Dillard, Mechelle). These awards and achievements not only represent everything that Coach Summitt and her teams have worked for in 37 seasons, but make Summitt one of the greatest coaches in the history of the game.
Individual Honors
- Naismith Women's Basketball Coach of the 20th Century
- Inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame - 2000
- Inducted into the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame - 1999
- 1990 was the First Woman to win the John Bunn Award
- Inducted into the Women's Sports Foundation Hall of Fame - 1990
- 3 time Coach of the Year by the Touchdown Club of Columbus
- 2 time Victor Award for Women's Basketball Coach of the Year
- 5 time Naismith College Coach of the Year
- 3 time WBCA Coach of the Year
- USBWA Coach of the Year - 1998
- Associated Press Coach of the Year - 1998
- 8 time SEC Coach of the Year
- John and Nellie Wooden Award - 1998
- Inducted into the National Association For Sport and Physical Education's Hall of Fame - 1996
- Casey Award from the Kansas City Sports Commision - 1997
- Governor Ned McWherter Award of Excellence - 1997
- ARETE Award for Courage in Sports - 1999
- Coach of the Division 1 Women's Basketball 25th Anniversary Team
Team Honors
- Has won Eight National Championships 1987, 1989, 1991, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2007, and 2008
- First NCAA Women's Team to win the championship 3 consecutive years
- 16 Regular Season SEC Championships
- 14 SEC Tournament Championships
- Winningest Active Female Coach in the NCAA
- Youngest coach to achieve 300, 400, 500, 600, 700, 800, 900, 1000 victories
- Led the Lady Vols to all 30 Women's NCAA Tournaments
- 33 Consecutive 21 or more wins in a season
- ESPY Team of the Decade in 2000
- Coached 1000th Game on January 22, 2004
- Reached 1000 wins on January 5, 2009