HOF Coach Pat Summitt Dies From Dementia

Hall of Fame coach Pat Summitt, a pioneer of women's college basketball who guided the Tennessee Volunteers to eight national titles in her 38 seasons at the university, died Tuesday morning. She was 64.

Summitt 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.

"It is with tremendous sadness that I announce the passing of my mother, Patricia Sue Head Summitt," said Summitt's son Tyler in a statement. "She died peacefully this morning at Sherrill Hill 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. 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."

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.

Of her eight national championships, she won three straight from 1996 to '98. Her teams won 16 Southeastern Conference tournament titles and made an unprecedented 31 consecutive appearances in the NCAA tournament.

For many, with the advent of Title IX in 1972, Summitt became the face of women's college team sports in that she helped prove, from the outset, that they could work. -- By ESPN