THEY SAID IT

As a young coach I read everything I could get my hands on about Pat Summitt and the Tennessee Lady Vols. … There are literally thousands of coaches across this country who can say the exact same thing. … Life by life, her influence has spread into little corners all across this country and beyond.” — Oklahoma women’s

coach Sherri Coale

She showed us that it was OK to be competitive and tough and hardworking and really demand excellence from ourselves and from others. I think that she inspired multiple generations.” — Rice women’s coach

Tina Langley

I was always impressed with how all of her former players spoke about her. You speak to people like Tamika Catchings or Chamique Holdsclaw, and they just talk about the role that Pat played in all their lives on and off the court. You can just tell the impact that she had on those players. … It would have been a great experience to play for her. She could have coached any team, any sport, men’s or women’s. It wouldn’t have mattered because Pat could flat out coach.” — Retired NFL QB and Tennessee alum Peyton Manning

Pat learned early on that everyone should be treated the same. When she would play basketball against her older brothers in the family barn, they didn’t treat her any differently and certainly didn’t go easy on her. Later, her Hall of Fame career would tell the story of the historic progress toward equality in American athletics that she helped advance.”

— President Barack Obama