Former Tennessee women’s basketball coach Pat Summitt was diagnosed with early-onset dementia back in 2011, and now things have reportedly taken a turn for the worst.
According to Fox Sports radio in Knoxville, Summitt was moved into hospice care on Saturday night and her condition has worsened to the point where the doctors’ primary focus is making her as comfortable as possible in what could be her final days.
A spokesperson for The Pat Summitt Foundation released a statement that did not mention hospice care. However, it did mention that those close to Summitt are “asking for prayers.”
On behalf of Pat Summitt’s family, we acknowledge the past few days have been difficult for Pat as her early onset dementia, ‘Alzheimer’s Type,’ progresses. She is surrounded by those who mean the most to her and during this time, we ask for prayers for Pat and her family and friends, as well as your utmost respect and privacy. Thank you.
The 64-year-old Summitt won eight NCAA basketball championships and went to the Final Four 18 times during her 37-year career as head coach. She also was a seven-time national coach of the year, led the 1984 U.S. women’s national team to a gold medal, was elected to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, and was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by Barack Obama in 2012.
