Pat Summit: Legendary Game Changer

Her legendary career can be measured in heaps of medals and awards championships won and champions created. For nearly four decades hat summit. Fiercely led the university of Tennessee's women's... See More

Her legendary career can be measured in heaps of medals and awards championships won and champions created. For nearly four decades hat summit. Fiercely led the university of Tennessee's women's basketball team to record breaking victories. Becoming the most successful college basketball coach in history. But the top coaches career change forever with the devastating diagnosis. And she told Good Morning America anchor. -- -- Is quite simply the most successful college basketball -- And feared by opponents. I don't have -- -- alive one of them is that I never played. For you but -- especially those early years -- We'll I think I had to be at least -- in. For Concord achievements remain unmatched but it is off the basketball court that this champion is fighting her greatest battle. A shocking diagnosis with early onset dementia alzheimer's. -- -- -- -- -- You said that hearing numbers and things don't. -- mean as much but if you actually see like a player. For something -- barred from memory -- -- -- -- -- -- -- We know this says. He was a coach yes -- always -- controlling noise and I think faster -- it must've had to be readjustment. For you how -- on about that. Just knowing what -- -- I think that. That helps me as people move in and you know just stand alive. Now nearly two years later in spite of that devastating diagnosis. Pat Summitt is living her life. The way she always have. Pat Summitt and Robin Roberts yeah the most inspirational women in -- she as the head coach emeritus. Of the university of Tennessee lady vols and. Attending practice and home home games -- This is creating. She still drives herself to practice -- And of course takes her beloved -- Sally and -- for daily walks. I had a chance to catch up with -- at her home in Knoxville to talk about her new book sum -- up as a deeply personal story of the little girl. Who grew up dirt -- on a farm in Tennessee. A fourth child and first daughter of Richard and hazel head. So before the story goes her daddy had to -- a mule to get the money to marry her mom. And you slept in the same crib until years six years -- core. And Alice filled us bridge loan but the long as and tall and with three older Brothers you've learned to play basketball got tough. And good. So good that she played in college and even went to the Olympics. -- always loved beginning edges may mean want to go more -- more and more so we saw the world and in. We had never even been on a plane. -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- In the book she is candid about a complicated relationship with the father who loved her dearly. But had trouble expressing. Affection. -- 43 years old one another national championship. And what you remember most. Is. Climbing into the spare us but what did your daddy do. -- -- -- -- -- -- City love money and he also spent don't hear any -- else but this Seymour. But -- -- says that was the first time her daddy hunter. The winningest coach in the history of college basketball man or woman. And a presidential medal of -- But -- that some of what she is most proud -- no hesitation. Her son Tyler. A lot of women are gonna relate to the number of times you tried to have a child seven miscarriages. But get dollar. That was the most important thing Tyler has also been her staunchest allies since her diagnosis in -- eleven. In an ESPN documentary -- -- -- -- this summer but normally stoic pat breaks down. Explaining how typical the decision was to step aside. As head coach at Tennessee. So it's hard. You know 'cause I didn't I didn't want it but I felt like I needed to stepped. So once the -- to little boy -- cut down championship -- alongside his mom. Is now following in her footsteps as assistant coach at Marquette University. He speaks to -- every day. The times that I do worry about her all I have to do is call whenever you taught -- you don't worry anymore he's -- greatest achievement. -- and -- he's always there for me. Sadly there is still no cure for alzheimer's. But how she's chosen to do with it. Is just another example. Of what makes Pat -- so special have you had the Y me moment hot. You know had a few of -- can't changes that I can deal with. What is it that you want people to understand about -- that can help them. It it may not -- the best the best thing but you just gotta make it what it is. And you know that's what I've done for Nightline I'm Robin Roberts in New York.