Pat Summitt, the winningest Division 1 college basketball coach of all time, died Tuesday at the age of 64. In remembrance of the transformative coach, her peers and athletes have shared their tributes, calling her courageous, loving and passionate, and saying that she helped put women’s basketball on the map and get female athletics coaches the salaries they deserved.
Summitt’s former colleague Joan Cronan said, “the legacy she leaves is immense. Her players, who all have college degrees, have been enriched by her teaching.” Here, five Pat Summitt quotes that will live on with her legacy:
On success:
“Here’s how I’m going to beat you. I’m going to outwork you. That’s it. That’s all there is to it.” -via Newsday
On hiring other women:
“I think athletic directors should hire people that can take over their program, recruit and be competitive in the women’s game. It doesn’t bother me. Obviously, if a man and a woman have equal experience and abilities, I’m going to hire a woman. Because we don’t have as many opportunities.” – via TIME
On strong friendships:
“The absolute heart of loyalty is to value those people who tell you the truth, not just those people who tell you what you want to hear.” – via her book, Reach for the Summit
On her Alzheimer’s diagnosis:
“Put away your hankies. There’s not going to be any pity party. We’re going to fight, and we’re going to fight publicly.” – via TIME
On working through medical challenges:
“I think I can help others just by my example….I have to keep living and doing what I want to do” – via The Washington Post
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