Warlick up to challenge left behind by Summitt

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Holly Warlick has her work cut out for her as Tennessee’s new women’s basketball coach.

She is replacing Pat Summitt, which has been compared to following Dean Smith at North Carolina, John Wooden at UCLA or Bear Bryant at Alabama.

Warlick said she’s simply taking over a program she’s very familiar with for her close friend, and, just like Summitt, Warlick welcomes a challenge.

“This is what I do,” said Warlick, Tennessee’s first new women’s head basketball coach since Summitt took over in 1974. “I’m a basketball coach, and I’ve been it all my life. I’ve learned from the best, so I don’t see it as I’m following a legend. I’m following a mentor who’s prepared me for this opportunity and it happens to be at the University of Tennessee.

“Very honored, privileged, and I’m ready to go to work.”

Warlick has her hands full. Not only did Summitt set a seemingly unreachable standard with 1,098 victories and eight national titles in her 38 seasons, five seniors are gone from last year’s team. So Warlick’s success will depend on convincing great players to keep coming to Tennessee.

The Lady Vols have been waiting since the spring signing period opened April 10 on junior college prospects Uju Ugoka and Wilka Montout, while high school junior Kaela Davis of Buford, Ga., announced in February she was looking at other college after being committed to playing at Tennessee for several years.

Warlick said the uncertainty over Summitt’s future was a little bit of a concern. She and assistant Dean Lockwood immediately got on the phones after Wednesday’s announcement, and she said the feedback they have received has been good.

Summitt sticking around as head coach emeritus helps as well.

“It’s been really a positive response for us on the recruiting side,” said Warlick, who also has to quickly hire two new assistants.

Lost in the season- long saga over what Summitt would do following her announcement Aug. 23 of her diagnosis with early-onset dementia, Alzheimer’s type, was Warlick’s role with the team. She took the lead during games, holding the clipboard in the huddles, and talked with reporters afterward.

The Lady Vols went 27-9 and won a 16th SEC Tournament title.

A Knoxville native, Warlick was one of Summitt’s earliest recruits and became a threetime All-american between 1976 and 1980 when Tennessee went 118-23. She was the first Tennessee athlete to have her jersey retired at the end of her career.

Warlick went into coaching and started as an assistant at Virginia Tech between 1981 and 1983 before moving to Nebraska for two seasons. She returned home and joined Summitt on the bench where she spent the past 27 years.

Warlick was on hand for all eight national titles along with 949 of Summitt’s 1,098 victories and is a member of the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame.

Warlick also received a vote of confidence from some of the marquee coaches in the women’s game.

“I am thrilled for Holly as this opportunity is well-deserved, and Pat will be a huge asset to her moving forward,” Uconn Coach Geno Auriemma said.

Summit presented Warlick with her whistle during Thursday’s news conference. About the only thing missing from practices will be Summitt’s icy glare, something Warlick said she doesn’t have.

“She yells just like Pat does,” departing senior Glory Johnson said. “She yells just as loud as Pat does. She’s a lot more goofy off the floor, but on the floor they have the same mentality.

“They’re about winning and being successful and doing whatever it takes to get the job done.”

AP Former Tennessee assistant Holly Warlick was named to replace Pat Summitt as the Lady Volunteers’ coach Thursday, 38 years after Summitt first took over the job.