"Two of our freshmen were in shock": When Pat Summitt highlighted her intense demands from Tennessee players
Pat Summitt didn't become a Tennessee legend by taking the easy way out. In a 2009 interview with SUCCESS, the Lady Volunteers coach opened up about her expectations for players.
Summitt discussed how she assured success for her squad.
"I’ve been known to say, winners aren’t born, they’re self-made,” Summitt said. “They’re made that way by setting goals every day."
The veteran coach went on to explain that the high expectations she has for players can initially come as a surprise.
"Players who come to our program, they really don’t understand what they individually have to invest," Summitt said. "At the start of this season, two of our freshmen were in shock. They’ve never had to sprint on every possession, talk and communicate on the floor. Its like they can go for two to three minutes, but they’ll give in to the mental fatigue. They’re in great physical shape, but haven’t had to put up with this mental challenge."
Summitt gave SUCCESS a look into how she prepares young players for the high level of competition at Tennessee.
"In order for them to overcome that they have to have a different mindset — a different focus — and we talk about that throughout every practice," Summitt said. "Most of our games are played in four-minute segments, because most every game we play is on TV, so they get breaks for commercials. But to get them ready, I want them to play in five- or seven- or eight-minute stretches and be able to maintain that mental edge; that is the real challenge for our young players.”
Summitt expected a lot from her players during her tenure at Tennessee, and her tactics yielded great success.
Pat Summitt's achievements at Tennessee
Pat Summitt became a certified Tennessee legend in her 38 seasons leading the Lady Volunteers. From 1974 to 2012, Summitt helped secure eight national titles for her squad, including three consecutive championships from 1996 to 98. Tennessee made 31 straight NCAA Tournament appearances and advanced to a record 28 Final Fours under Summitt's guidance.
The legendary Vols coach was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2000 and a statue was built as a tribute at Tennessee in 2013. The Pat Summitt Lifetime Achievement Award - first presented in 2015 - has been awarded annually by the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame in her honor.