The Final Season: The Perseverance of Pat Summitt

by Maria Cornelius

With 1,098 wins and eight national championships, Lady Vol Coach Pat Summitt has left a remarkable legacy of perseverance, leadership, and passion for the game—but her victories on the court aren’t the only legacy she has left in her wake.Since the beginning of her career as Lady Vol head coach at twenty-two years old, Pat Head Summitt effectively established the University of Tennessee Lady Vols as the top women’s athletics program in the nation. The winningest coach in the history of NCAA basketball, Summitt overcame one obstacle after another on the road to every victory, but it is the lives she has impacted along the way that tell the story of her true legacy. Forever a role model for young women, expecting nothing but the best from her players and from those around her, her legacy has never faltered—not even during her final season as head coach, when she faced her fiercest adversary the diagnosis of early-onset Alzheimer’s disease.In The Final The Perseverance of Pat Summitt, Maria M. Cornelius tells the story of her final coaching season through the eyes of those who know her best, from players to support staff to Summitt’s closest friends and advisors. Beginning with the diagnosis that shook the Tennessee community in the summer of 2011 and continuing through to the final game of the 2011–12 season, The Final Season presents readers with a behind-the-scenes look at the conclusion of Summitt’s coaching career, detailing from the perspective of a sports writer how her diagnosis impacted her players and her staff as well as her fans.With forewords by former Lady Vol Candace Parker and Swish Appeal editor Mike Robinson, The Final Season reveals how Summitt’s remarkable story of perseverance not only united a team of young women but also brought an entire sports following together, revealing an incredible support system that spanned far beyond Summitt’s Tennessee community. The coach’s determined spirit, selfless love, and sense of humor shine through the pages of Cornelius’s book, painting for readers the picture of a beloved leader and detailing the personal moments of defeat and triumph that make Summitt a true champion. 

Genres: Sports, Nonfiction

331 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 30, 2016

Reviews

[Stacy Lewis · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's about Pat Summit so, duh...... 5 stars. Plus, it's written by a friend.

[Amanda Hooten · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is absolutely Incredible!! Maria shares such detail of Coach Pat Summitt, her assistants and her players. She does it with a personal touch from her first meeting interviewing Coach to their relationship that transpired over time covering the Lady Vols. It doesn't matter if you are a Lady Vols fan, a basketball fan or a follower of sports in general, it helps if you are, but if you aren't it shows what Coach Summitt achieved and how Coach paved the way for all women. Coach Summitt believed in hard work, determination and followed her dreams and made sure she mentored not only on the court but off the court by keeping her players involved in achieving a 100% graduation rate with most of her players graduating with not only bachelor degrees but master degrees and/or double majors! Maria describes the ups, the downs and the heart tugging effects of dementia and early onset Alzheimer's which is affecting more people at a much younger age. Do yourself a favor and read this book!!

[Ryan Splenda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pat Summitt is my favorite coach of all-time. Naturally, I had to read this book about her last season as the Lady Vols head coach while battling Alzheimer's Disease. Maria Cornelius' book takes us behind the scenes during that last successful and tumultuous season (2011-2012). Starting with the announcement in summer of 2011 and ending with the Elite 8 loss to Baylor, Cornelius chronicles the ups and downs of that unprecedented season. There is thorough discussion of non-basketball related issues including the circumstances surrounding Pat's stepping down as head coach that are quite interesting. Sometimes the book is redundant and drags a little, but it is ultimately a wonderful tribute to college basketball's greatest coach, leader, and mentor.

[Jan · Rating 5 out of 5]

A book not only about a great coach, but a great person!

[Kara · Rating 4 out of 5]

A detailed look at Pat Summitt's last season as the Lady Vols' head coach after going public with her diagnosis of early onset Alzheimer's. The narrative draws on the Maria Cornelius' reporting from that time as well as subsequent interviews with University of Tennessee players and staff. Although the text is sometimes repetitive and the author's bugbears about the ways some journalists wrote about Summitt are speckled in, the book is overall a good contribution to sports history and a worthwhile read for any basketball fan.

[Paula Keith · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am not a huge fan of basketball, but even I knew that Pat Summitt was a classy lady on and off the court. After reading this book, I admire everyone involved with the Tennessee team during Summitt's last season. It had to be emotionally hard and yet they continued on, dealing with the changes as they happened. This book gives the reader insights as to the emotions and vulnerabilities of everyone who was touched by Pat Summitt and her courage.

[Lisa Ridner · Rating 1 out of 5]

I have read every book published about Pat Summitt. Every single one of them have a similar theme in that they all speak well of Summitt’s character, her grace, her influence, her passion, and her drive. This one, however, just seemed to be repetitive and confusing with stats. In several places I had to re-read and re-read again because she constantly flips back and forth in reference to different seasons. I feel like this book should have been just about 2012. I also feel like maybe it would have read better if each chapter would have been a reflection of the players mentioned, the coaches, the security guard, Tyler, the athletic dept, and then finally coaches that were influenced by her. It just really got confusing in places and redundant with play by play commentary.

[Cindy Walker · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was disappointed in this book, probably due to my own expectations. I’m a Knoxville native and big fan of Pat Summitt. I was expecting more of a personal story of her final season of coaching. There were a few of those sprinkled through here and there, but this book was more of a summary of the games of that season – who was injured, which team was leading at halftime - lots of stays like that. Nothing necessarily wrong with that, but not what I was looking for. Additionally, a lot of some more personal stories were ones that are commonly known in Knoxville. So, not necessarily any fault with the book. It is, clearly, named the final season. But not insight into the legendary coach’s life and strength like I was hoping.

[Lulu Cares · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not the best writing on this subject. This book is a bit scattered. It hints at a couple of things, but doesn’t follow through and explain. So I’m left with the feeling of discontent. Did Pat leave UT on her own terms, or not?

[Lisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wanted to love this book, but there was SO MUCH play-by-play narrative that it seemed more about the players and less about Coach Summitt.

[Linda Caruso · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best books I've ever read!!

[Phyllis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Who could not like a book about Pat Summit? I had always admired her and this just reinforced my thoughts. She was gone too soon from a horrible disease.

[Tracie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wonderful tribute to the greatest coach of all time, Pat Summitt, and her final team of Lady Vols.

[Kb · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing! Well written with stories as told from the perspective of assistant coaches and players from Pat's final team.

[Sean Kinch]

My review at Chapter16.org:

https://chapter16.org/we-back-pat/

[Mitchell Northam · Rating 5 out of 5]

An incredibly detailed and deeply reported behind the scenes examination of Pat Summitt’s final season coaching Lady Vols basketball. We need more books like this in women’s college basketball.

[Carolyn Binder · Rating 1 out of 5]

Whoever edited this book needs to be fired. The narrator couldn’t even pronounce Coach K’s name correctly. Couldn’t stand it. Unfortunate for a legend like Pat Summitt to be so poorly edited.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great look at Pat Summitt's final season at Tennessee.

[Betty · Rating 4 out of 5]

A look at Pat's last season.....emotionally charged. A must read for anyone interested in women's basketball.

[Jayne Bartrand · Rating 3 out of 5]

I Back Pat! Gone too soon.

[Kathy Kirstner · Rating 5 out of 5]

She was a great leader and role model