Statement from U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan on Pat Summitt Stepping Down as Tennessee Coach

"I am saddened to see that Pat Summitt is stepping down as the basketball coach at the University of Tennessee because she has set the gold standard for coaches everywhere. Her accomplishments as a basketball coach at the University of Tennessee may never be matched. She has won more games than any college basketball coach in history and coached the U.S. women's basketball to a gold medal. She built a program from scratch that won the NCAA championship eight times—and created the only team in the country to earn a berth in all 32 NCAA women's basketball tournaments.

"Yet as extraordinary as Pat's record is on the court, it's every bit as exceptional off of it. Pat has an unparalleled ability to develop leaders and champions from the court to the classroom. During the 38 years she coached the Lady Vols, every single player who completed her eligibility at Tennessee graduated, and dozens of her players went on to become coaches themselves. Her career is a powerful reminder that the job of the coach is not just to win games but to be a mentor and help develop the life skills of their players. Now, as she moves on to continue her courageous role as a spokesperson in the fight against Alzheimer's, I know she will continue to educate and teach so many of us once more."