Wednesday, April 02, 2014

Twenty Three

When I was 23 years old, I lived in a group house in Williamsburg with some fraternity brothers and a couple of random other guys (one of whom is now part-owner of the Los Angeles Dodgers - really wish I'd made more of an effort to befriend that dude). I worked four hours each morning for the Sports Information Office at William & Mary and spent most of the rest of my days getting stoned and playing Frisbee golf. (Note to my Mom, if she reads this, by 'getting stoned and playing Frisbee golf, I mean, 'considering my plans for the future and reading lots of books'.).

When Tyler Summitt was 23 years old, he was named the head coach of a Division I women's basketball program.

Showoff.

Summitt will be introduced this afternoon as the new head coach of the Louisiana Tech Lady Techsters. If you're unfamiliar with him, his last name is a pretty good clue regarding his background, but it's not the entire story.

"It's unlikely Summitt's career would have advanced this quickly were he not the son of maybe women's basketball's greatest coach, but nepotism certainly wasn't the sole reason he got his assistant coaching gig at Marquette. 

Neither Marquette coach Terri Mitchell nor anyone else at the school were especially close with Pat. Summitt landed that job by looking up Mitchell's office number on Marquette's website, cold-calling her to request an interview and then wowing her enough face-to-face that he had a verbal offer before he left Milwaukee."

The younger Summitt grew up around women's basketball as Pat Summitt's kid, and played for Bruce Pearl and Cuonzo Martin as a walk-on at Tennessee. He's been portrayed in various media reports over the years as a devoted son and hoops junkie. 



Louisiana Tech almost certainly expects to benefit from Summitt's name and connections in the basketball world. And Tyler Summitt's got a mountain to climb (really sorry about that - just awful) and giant footsteps in which to walk.

Says here that both parties will benefit from this relationship. And we're rooting for Summitt to succeed.

18 comments:

zman said...

By my math Tyler Summitt was born in 1991. I assume that's when he got that tie.

Clarence said...

According to the all-knowing Internet, Tyler Summitt was born Friday, September 21, 1990. But you were close.

I was living in Lodge 10 then, spending too many nights at the Delly with the likes of Rob and Dave. I turned 20 at midnight that Friday night. I'm gonna say I was intoxicated before Tyler had his first feeding.

zman said...

I have to make my virgin trip to London for work May 4-7. I won't have a ton of free time and I'll be there with two co-workers (who seem relatively cool) but I'd appreciate any food and drink recs.

Greg said...

Milwall!!

T.J. said...

HI GREG!

TR said...

Basketball coaches in ties is as silly as baseball managers in uniforms.

Clarence said...

I don't agree. You're representing a university and should look professional and well-dressed. 69-year-old Tommy Lasorda in a Dodgers uni was just silly.

mayhugh said...

yeah, if Gregg Popovich had to suit up in a Spurs uni, I would have a similar complaint.

T.J. said...

ties and jorts or gtfo

zman said...

This is why TR always rocks an Under Armour mock turtleneck and blazer.

rob said...

zed, if you're into steak and whiskey, go to hawksmoor while in london. it's so choice. if you have the means, i highly recommend it.

Dave said...

look kids, big ben . . . parliament . . .

TR said...

Screw you, Mellon!

Clarence said...

TR as Billy Zabka. Like it.

Greg said...

You could visit fratres Keith Miller & Ian Dewey.


Just sayin'

Greg said...

Also, Zman, over there, you're known as "Zedman". So, you know, maybe start getting used to it now so it's not so strange.

TR said...

And be careful not to lose your mobile, Zedman. You never know how many hooligans are on holiday and may fancy a stolen mobile.

TR said...

Fo those of you scoring at home (or those of you who are alone), Houston is still as unexceptional as always. Off to OKC tonight. I finagled a way into taking clients to the Thunder-Spurs game. Not quite the second row seats I had last time in the venue, but still decent seats for what turned into a matchup of the league's two best teams.