Career Timeline of Pat Summitt: Major Achievements and Milestones

From career breakthroughs to professional milestones, explore how Pat Summitt made an impact.

Pat Summitt was a highly successful American women's college basketball coach. She led the University of Tennessee Lady Vols from 1974 to 2012, amassing 1,098 career wins, a record at the time of her retirement. Widely considered one of the greatest basketball coaches ever, Summitt left an enduring legacy on the sport.

Sections (4)

Full Timeline Career & Achievements Success & Recognition Legacy & Impact

December 7, 1974: First Game as Head Coach

On December 7, 1974, Pat Summitt coached her first game for Tennessee against Mercer University, resulting in a loss for the Lady Vols with a score of 84-83.

1974: Head Coach of Lady Vols

In 1974, Pat Summitt began her tenure as the head coach of the University of Tennessee Lady Vols basketball team.

January 10, 1975: First Win as Head Coach

On January 10, 1975, Pat Summitt secured her first win as the head coach of the Lady Vols, with a 69-32 victory over Middle Tennessee State.

1978: First Number One Ranking and AIAW Final Four

In 1978, Pat Summitt directed the Lady Vols to their first number one ranking and participated in their first AIAW Final Four, where they finished third.

1980: AIAW Final Four Appearance

During the 1980–81 season, the Lady Vols made it to the AIAW Final Four for the third straight year; finished runner-up for the second consecutive year, losing to Louisiana Tech, 79–59.

1980: SEC Tournament

In 1980, Pat Summitt coached the Tennessee Lady Vols to the SEC Tournament. This was one of 16 SEC Tournament appearances.

1980: Six-Person Game in High Schools

Until 1980, Tennessee high schools employed a six-person game where offensive and defensive players never crossed mid-court, which influenced Summitt's early coaching strategies.

1981: First NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament

During the 1981-82 season, Pat Summitt coached the Lady Vols in the first-ever NCAA women's basketball tournament.

1982: NCAA Regional—Final Four

In 1982, Pat Summitt coached the Tennessee Lady Vols to the NCAA Regional Final Four, marking one of her eighteen appearances in this stage of the tournament.

1983: Lady Vols Rally and Finish Strong

During the 1983–84 season, Summitt rallied her team and finished 22–10, for her eighth straight 20-win season.

1984: Pat Summitt Coaches US Team to Gold at William Jones Cup

In 1984, Pat Summitt coached the team representing the USA at the William Jones Cup competition in Taipei, Taiwan. The team won all eight games and the gold medal.

1986: 300th Career Win

During the 1986–87 regular season, Summitt earned her 300th win, an 87–66 victory over North Carolina.

1987: First National Title

In 1987, Pat Summitt led Tennessee to break through and defeat Louisiana Tech 67–44 to win the Lady Vols' first national title.

1988: Lady Vols in Final Four

In 1988, the Lady Vols made it to the Final Four yet again, but Louisiana Tech avenged the previous year's championship game loss with a 9-point victory and went on to win the title.

1989: SEC Title

In 1989-90, the Lady Vols started off the season well, winning the SEC title.

1990: 400th Career Win

In 1990, Pat Summitt accomplished another milestone that season with her 400th win, a 70–69 victory over South Carolina on January 25.

1991: Third National Title

In 1991, the Lady Vols beat Stanford, 68–60, to earn the chance to avenge the previous year's tournament loss against Virginia to secure their third national title in five years.

1992: Loss to Western Kentucky

In 1992, the Lady Vols did not make it to the regional championship, falling 75–70 to Western Kentucky.

1993: 500th Win

Early in the 1993–94 season, Pat Summitt grabbed her 500th win, an 80–45 win over Ohio State on November 21.

1995: Return to Final Four

In 1995-96, with freshman Holdsclaw and senior Michelle M. Marciniak, the Lady Vols won the SEC tournament and made a second straight Final Four trip.

November 23, 1996: 600th Win

On November 23, 1996, Summitt earned her 600th win with a 15-point victory over Marquette.

1997: Pat Summitt Considered for Men's Coaching Job

Before 1997, the University of Tennessee approached Pat Summitt about the possibility of coaching the men's basketball team.

1997: Second Straight National Championship

In 1997, the Lady Vols, shocked previously undefeated Connecticut in the regional final before defeating Notre Dame and Old Dominion in the Final Four to win the team's second straight national championship.

1998: SEC Tournament Win

In 1998, The Lady Vols won a 93–75 victory over Louisiana Tech for their third straight national championship.

2000: Lady Vols Named Co-Team of the Decade at ESPY Awards

In 2000, the Lady Vols basketball team, coached by Pat Summitt, was named co-team of the decade at the ESPY awards, sharing the honor with the Florida State Seminoles football team. Pat Summitt was also named the Naismith Coach of the Century, and Chamique Holdsclaw was recognized as the Naismith Women's Collegiate Player of the Century.

2000: Lady Vols Claim SEC Title and Pat Summitt Earns 750th Win

In 2000, the Lady Vols secured another SEC title, achieving a perfect 14-0 record in SEC games. Additionally, Pat Summitt celebrated her 750th career victory during the regular season. The team finished with their fourth consecutive 30-win season.

2001: Pat Summitt Considered for Men's Coaching Job

In 2001, for the second time, the University of Tennessee approached Pat Summitt about the possibility of coaching the men's basketball team.

2001: Lady Vols Win SEC Championship

In 2001, the Lady Vols won their fifth straight SEC championship. In addition, the team reached the Final Four in the NCAA tournament.

2002: Pat Summitt Achieves 800th Win

In 2002, Pat Summitt earned her 800th win as coach, achieving the milestone faster than any other coach. The Lady Vols compiled their sixth perfect SEC season and lost to UConn in the NCAA title game 73-68.

2002: Summitt Surpasses John Wooden in Final Four Appearances

In 2002, Pat Summitt made her 13th trip to the Final Four as a coach, surpassing John Wooden as the NCAA coach with the most Final Four appearances.

2004: Pat Summitt Becomes All-Time Winningest NCAA Basketball Coach

In 2004, Pat Summitt reached a major milestone, surpassing Dean Smith to become the all-time winningest coach in NCAA basketball history, with her 880th win. The Lady Vols won the SEC Championship and advanced to the Final Four but lost to Michigan State.

February 5, 2009: Pat Summitt Earns 1,000th Win

On February 5, 2009, Pat Summitt achieved her 1,000th win with a victory over the Georgia Lady Bulldogs. In recognition of this milestone, the Thompson-Boling Arena's court was named "The Summitt".

April 18, 2012: Pat Summitt Steps Down as Head Coach

On April 18, 2012, Pat Summitt stepped down as head coach of the Lady Vols after 38 years, at age 59, following a loss in the Elite Eight. Holly Warlick was named as her successor, and Summitt was given the title of Head Coach Emeritus.

May 2012: Tyler Summitt's Graduation and Coaching Hire

In May 2012, Tyler Summitt graduated from Tennessee and was subsequently hired as an assistant coach by the Marquette University women's team, a development announced on the same day as his mother's retirement.