October 5, 2012 UT Comments About Coach Emeritus Summitt's Statement From Margie Nichols, vice chancellor for communications for the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. Pat Summitt is a legend at the University of Tennessee. Our goal through this transition has always been to respect her legacy as the best coach in America. We're saddened that Coach Summitt hs been drawn into this. We stand by Pat and her statements, both today and at her press conference in April, that it was her decision to step aside as head coach and become head coach emeritus of the Lady Vol basketball team. We are eager to respond to the other allegations in the lawsuit and will do so through the judicial process. We don't want this to be a distraction for the basketball team. We agree with Pat: we're excited about the future of the team under the leadership of Coach Holly Warlick.