Pat Summitt's Success and Achievements in Timeline

A success timeline featuring the most significant achievements of Pat Summitt.

Pat Summitt was a highly successful American women's college basketball coach, most notably for the University of Tennessee Lady Vols from 1974-2012. She retired with 1,098 career wins, the most in college basketball history at that time. Summitt is widely regarded as one of the greatest basketball coaches of all time.

Sections (4)

Full Timeline Career & Achievements Success & Recognition Legacy & Impact

1963: USA Win Gold Medal in Pan American Games

After winning the gold medal in 1963, the USA team lost to Brazil in both 1967 and 1971.

1975: Pan American Games Gold Medal

In 1975, Summitt was named to the U.S. women's basketball team invited to compete at the 1975 Pan American Games. The USA won its opening game against host-country Mexico 99–65. The USA would go on to win its next five games and secured the gold medal with a convincing 74–55 victory against Brazil.

1976: Silver Medal at the Montreal Olympics

In 1976, Pat Summitt co-captained the United States women's national basketball team at the inaugural women's tournament in the Summer Olympics, winning a silver medal.

1976: Earned Master's and won Olympic Silver Medal

In 1976, Pat Summitt earned her master's degree in physical education and training and also served as the co-captain of the U.S. Women's Olympic basketball team that won a silver medal in Montreal.

1978: First Number One Ranking

In 1978, Pat Summitt coached the Lady Vols to defeat 3-time AIAW champion Delta State by 20 points, which earned Tennessee its first number one ranking and participation in their first AIAW Final Four, where they finished third.

1980: SEC Tournament

In 1980, Pat Summitt coached the Tennessee Lady Vols to the SEC Tournament.

1982: NCAA Regional—Final Four

In 1982, Pat Summitt coached the Tennessee Lady Vols to the NCAA Regional Final Four.

1984: Gold Medal as Head Coach at the Olympics

In 1984, Pat Summitt coached the U.S. women's basketball team at the Olympics, leading them to win a gold medal.

1984: William Jones Cup Gold Medal

In 1984, Summitt was chosen as the head coach of the team representing the USA in the William Jones Cup competition in Taipei, Taiwan. The USA won all eight games and the gold medal.

1986: 300th Career Win

During the 1986-87 regular season, Pat Summitt achieved her 300th win with an 87-66 victory over North Carolina.

1987: First National Title

In 1986-87, Tennessee, coached by Pat Summitt, defeated Louisiana Tech to win the Lady Vols' first national title, with Tonya Edwards named the Most Outstanding Player in the Final Four.

1991: Won third national title

In 1990-91, Pat Summitt coached the Lady Vols to win their third national title after defeating Stanford and Virginia in the NCAA tournament.

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, avenging the previous year's tournament loss to UConn and winning their fourth title with an 83–65 win over Georgia.

November 23, 1996: 600th Win

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

1996: National Title

In 1996, Pat Summitt won the first of three consecutive national titles.

1998: Third Consecutive National Title

In 1998, Pat Summitt and the Lady Vols won their third consecutive national title.

1999: Induction into the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame

In 1999, Pat Summitt was inducted into the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame as part of its inaugural class.

2000: ESPY Awards Recognition

At the 2000 ESPY awards, the Lady Vols basketball team was named co-team of the decade, along with the Florida State Seminoles football team. Pat Summitt was also named the Naismith Coach of the Century and Chamique Holdsclaw earned recognition as Naismith Women's Collegiate Player of the Century.

2000: Named Naismith Basketball Coach of the Century

In 2000, Pat Summitt was named the Naismith Basketball Coach of the Century, recognizing her significant contributions to the sport.

2000: SEC Title and Summitt's 750th Win

In 2000, the Lady Vols claimed another SEC title, winning all 14 SEC games. During the regular season, Summitt earned her 750th win in the second game against UConn, a 92–88 victory.

2001: Fifth Straight SEC Championship

In the 2001–02 season, the Lady Vols won their fifth straight SEC championship, but fell again in the conference tournament, this time to LSU. This trip to the Final Four marked Summitt's 13th appearance, which broke Coach John Wooden's record of 12, and earned her 788th win, which tied Summitt with Jody Conradt for the winningest coach in women's basketball history.

2002: Most Final Four Trips

In 2002, Pat Summitt made her 13th trip to the Final Four as a coach, surpassing John Wooden for the most trips to the Final Four by an NCAA coach.

2004: Summitt Becomes All-Time Winningest Coach

In 2004, Tennessee broke its losing streak against Connecticut with a narrow 68–67 regular season victory. In the second round of the NCAA tournament, the Lady Vols defeated Purdue. This victory gave Pat Summitt her 880th win, breaking North Carolina coach Dean Smith's record of 879 wins, and making her the all-time winningest coach in NCAA basketball history.

2005: Parker Joins Lady Vols

In 2005, Candace Parker, a highly regarded and nationally known high school player joined the Lady Vols. Tennessee suffered losses during the regular season to Duke, Rutgers, and LSU, while beating Stanford and Louisiana Tech. Tennessee won its first tournament title in four years by avenging its earlier loss to LSU loss with a 67–65 win in the SEC Championship game.

2007: Lady Vols Clinch SEC Title

In 2007, in Baton Rouge, the Lady Vols clinched the SEC title against LSU in a game where Candace Parker scored 27. In the championship game against Rutgers, Tennessee won its seventh title.

April 8, 2008: Tennessee Wins National Championship

On April 8, 2008, Tennessee won its second consecutive national championship (and eighth overall) by beating Stanford 64–48.

February 5, 2009: Summitt's 1,000th Win

On February 5, 2009, Summitt's first milestone of the 2008–09 season was a 73–43 win over the Georgia Lady Bulldogs at Thompson–Boling Arena in Knoxville. The win was the 1,000th for Coach Summitt. The Thompson–Boling Arena's court was named "The Summitt" in her honor.

2009: Ranked Among Greatest Coaches of All Time

In 2009, The Sporting News ranked Pat Summitt at number 11 on its list of the 50 Greatest Coaches of All Time in all sports, making her the only woman on the list.

December 2011: Summitt Named Sportswoman of the Year

In December 2011, Pat Summitt was honored as the Sports Illustrated sportswoman of the year.

2012: Presidential Medal of Freedom

In 2012, Pat Summitt received the Presidential Medal of Freedom from President Barack Obama.

2012: Presidential Medal of Freedom and Arthur Ashe Courage Award

In 2012, Pat Summitt was honored with the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Barack Obama and received the Arthur Ashe Courage Award at the ESPY Awards, celebrating her impact and resilience.

2012: Summitt Receives Courage Awards

In 2012, Summitt was presented the USBWA Most Courageous Award at the Final Four, and future awards were given in her name. She also received the Arthur Ashe Courage Award in 2012.

2013: Induction into the FIBA Hall of Fame

In 2013, Pat Summitt was inducted into the FIBA Hall of Fame, adding to her list of honors and solidifying her legacy in basketball.

2013: Statue on University of Tennessee Campus

In 2013, an eight-foot bronze statue was erected in Pat Summitt's honor on the University of Tennessee campus.

June 2016: Third-Highest NCAA Division I Championship Total

As of June 2016, Pat Summitt's eight NCAA Division I championships as a coach ranked as the third-highest total in the history of NCAA Division I men's and women's basketball.