Holly Warlick: 10 Things To Know About Pat Summitt's Successor
The Pat Summitt era has come to an end at the University of Tennessee after the legendary women's basketball coach stepped down after 38 seasons. Summitt passes the torch to new head coach Holly Warlick, a longtime Lady Vols assistant who handled the main coaching duties last season after Summitt was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease. Wikipedia

The Pat Summitt era has come to an end at the University of Tennessee after the legendary women's basketball coach stepped down after 38 seasons. Summitt passes the torch to new head coach Holly Warlick, a longtime Lady Vols assistant who handled the main coaching duties last season after Summitt was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease.

I'm very thankful for all Pat Summitt has done to prepare me for this opportunity, Warlick said, according to the Tennessean. She is my coach, mentor and great friend, and I am honored with the opportunity to continue and add to the great tradition of this program.

Summitt, 59, was diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer's disease in August 2011 and finished the season despite the diagnosis.

Here are 10 things to know about new Tennessee women's basketball coach Holly Warlick:

  • Warlick is a Knoxville native, the city where the University of Tennessee is located. She grew up in the city's Rocky Hill neighborhood.
  • Warlick attended the University of Tennessee and was a key member of the women's basketball team. During her collegiate career from 1976 to 1980, Warlick and the Lady Vols had a 118-23 record.
  • Warlick, who wore No. 22, was the first Lady Vols player to have her jersey retired at the end of her career.
  • She co-founded the Champions For A Cause Foundation, created to raise breast cancer awareness.
  • She was Summitt's top assistant for nearly a decade, as she was named associate head coach in time for the 2003-2004 women's basketball season.
  • Named the country's top assistant coach by the Women's Basketball C Association in 2007, when the Lady Vols won their seventh national championship.
  • Warlick has been an assistant coach at two other colleges: The University of Nebraska and Virginia Tech.
  • Warlick is a huge motorcycle enthusiast.
  • Lives in rural west Knoxville with her two dogs, Dixie and Chesney, and a rescue cat, Sasha.
  • She was a member of the 1980 women's U.S. Olympic basketball team.