Much too soon

She’s only 59 years old. She shouldn’t even be thinking of retiring yet, much less having to because of this kind of ailment. She’s at the top of her game—in her prime as far as coaches usually go.

To use a less than original but all too apt phrase, she’s the face of her sport. How many coaches can be said to be the face of the sport? She may even be the face of her state by now. When some of us think of Tennessee, certainly when we think of the best of our neighboring state, she comes quickly to mind.

But unfortunately for sports fans everywhere, and especially for fans of women’s basketball, Pat Summitt has had to step down as coach of the Tennessee Lady Volunteers.

The lady-in-chief announced last year that she was battling early-onset dementia. At 59. It’s going to be hard to see her slip away.

Just look at the record: Coach Summitt has won more games than any basketball coach in history—man or woman. But that scarcely tells the whole story. Neither do the eight national championships she won. Don’t forget this: Of all the 161 players she coached who completed their eligibility for her team, every one of them went on to graduate.

Now that’s a legacy. Championships or no.

Strength, coach. You’ll never be forgotten. For some of us, ma’am, you’ll always be the face of your sport.