By: Abigail Richards

Former Tennessee women’s basketball coach, Pat Summitt, had been a fixture in the program for decades. However, she was diagnosed with early-onset dementia in late 2011 and was forced to resign as head coach in April of 2012. Despite her bittersweet exit, Summitt has continued to be an inspiration both to the Lady Vols team and to others with cognitive impairment, the Tennessean reports. 

Summitt has won many awards during her nearly 40 seasons with the basketball team, and was most recently honored for her longstanding commitment. The Associated Press reports Summitt was recognized with the New York Athletic Club’s (NYAC’s) Winged Foot Legends Award on February 12.

This prestigious trophy “recognizes coaches and other individuals who were particularly influential within the sport of college basketball,” according to the news source. 

“To be the recipient of the NYAC’s Winged Foot Legends’ Award is quite humbling,” Summitt told the crowd according to the publication. “…Over the years, I have learned that you win in life with people. Life is much about relationships, and throughout my playing and coaching careers, I was blessed to be surrounded by incredibly talented student-athletes, coaches, staff members and the University of Tennessee Knoxville and Martin campuses that supported me…”

Past recipients of the award include Dean Smith, Bob Knight, Al McGuire, Ray Lumpp and John Wooden.