The University of Tennessee at Martin will unveil a grouping of life-size bronze statues of Lady Vols head coach emeritus Pat Head Summitt, her former UT Martin basketball coach Nadine Gearin and former UTM Women’s athletics director Bettye Giles. The statues will be located adjacent to the Kathleen and Tom Elam Center.
The unveiling is set for 10 a.m., Saturday, Oct. 6, immediately following the Letter Winners’ Breakfast and the 29th annual Hall of Fame Induction.
Summitt, Giles, UT President Joe DiPietro, UT President Emeritus Joe Johnson and UT Martin Chancellor Tom Rakes will participate in the unveiling.
The life-size bronze statues highlight the influence of these important mentors in Coach Summitt’s early career and the image of her as a UT Martin senior will be based on a 1973 picture when she co-captained the World University Games silver medalists. The figures of Giles and Gearin will also be from that era.
This tribute to honor Summitt, Gearin and Giles will serve as an enduring symbol of academic and athletic excellence and will influence and inspire young scholar-athletes for years to come.
The unveiling ceremony is open to the public.