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By now you may have heard the news about my former college basketball coach, Pat Summitt, who recently announced that she has been diagnosed with early-onset dementia. Pat is very dear to me, and so taking in this shocking news has made it a difficult week for me, just as it has been for the entire Tennessee family.

Knowing Pat as I do, I am confident she will meet this challenge with the same courage and never-quit attitude that are responsible for the unparalleled success she has enjoyed as an inspiring figure on and off the basketball court. While this news has prompted a natural opportunity to reflect on all the great things Pat has done for the game of basketball, I believe it is just as important to focus on how she has impacted the lives of those around her.

I’m lucky to count myself as one of those people whose lives have been enriched by knowing Pat. Her strength, characterized by unmatched tenacity and a dedication to excellence, has been a model for my own life, and it inspired me as a basketball player, coach, and now as a businesswoman.

Many people have asked for my reaction to the news of Pat’s diagnosis. Below you’ll find links to some of my own thoughts about Pat and what she has meant to me.

SI.com: Ex-Lady Vol Marciniak on Summitt’s diagnosis, her future and more
CNN/Fortune: What makes Pat Summitt a remarkable leader? An MVP explains

Photo by David E. Klutho/Sports Illustrated