Legendary women's basketball coach Pat Summitt dies at 64

The winningest coach in USDivision 1 collegiate basketball history, Pat Summitt, died on Tuesday, her foundation's website reported.

Summitt died surrounded by her family as she battled early onset dementia, a statement from her son Tyler Summitt said.

From 1974-2012, as the coach of the University of Tennessee women's Volunteers, Summitt guided teams to eight National Collegiate Athletic Association(NCAA)championships and 32 Southeastern Conference titles.

Add WION as a Preferred Source

"It is a very sad day on Rocky Top. Volunteers around the world are mourning the loss of the legendary Pat Summitt," University of Tennessee chancellor Jimmy G. Cheek said in a statement on the university's website.

"Pat was the greatest coach of all time; her fierce spirit will live on through her players, and through all of us who were inspired by her on a daily basis. Our sincerest sympathies go out to Tyler and all her family and friends."

Summitt, 64, stepped down as coach and revealed her battle with Alzheimer's in 2011 and started The Pat Summitt Foundation to raise awareness about Alzheimer's.

Summitt became the most successful basketball coach in 2005 and was named NCAA Coach of the Year seven times, according to a release on her foundation's website.

Born in Clarksville, Tennesseein 1952, Summitt was a standout basketball player as well, playing on the USsilver medal team at the 1976 Summer Games in Montreal, according to USA Today.

(Reuters)