Sad news as legendary Hall of Fame coach Pat Summitt has passed away at 64 years old.  Summit was a pioneer of women’s college basketball who guided the Tennessee Volunteers to eight national titles in her 38 seasons at the university; she died Tuesday morning.

Named the NCAA coach of the year seven times, Summitt led the Lady Vols to 22 Final Fours (18 NCAA, 4 AIAW) in her nearly four decades as coach.  Summitt also led the Lady Vols to 1,098 victories — the most in Division I college basketball history (men or women) ­­– before stepping down in 2012, one year after announcing she had early onset dementia, Alzheimer’s type.

For the past few days, there were reports that she was not doing well and her family was preparing for the worst.  Her son, Tyler Summitt, issued a statement Tuesday morning saying his mother died peacefully at Sherrill Hills Senior Living in Knoxville surrounded by those who loved her most.

“Since 2011, my mother has battled her toughest opponent, early onset dementia, ‘Alzheimer’s Type,’ and she did so with bravely fierce determination just as she did with every opponent she ever faced,” Tyler Summitt said. “Even though it’s incredibly difficult to come to terms that she is no longer with us, we can all find peace in knowing she no longer carries the heavy burden of this disease.”

Tyler Summitt said a private funeral and burial will be held in Middle Tennessee and asked that the family’s privacy be respected. A public memorial service is being planned for Thompson-Boling Arena.

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source: ESPN