Last week, University of Tennessee head coach Pat Summitt added another footnote to her Hall of Fame coaching resume. The legendary coach, who also serves as Player Personnel Consultant for the Washington Mystics, notched her 800th career win and became just the sixth coach in men's and women's NCAA college basketball history to reach the milestone.

Summitt addresses the Mystics at their 2002 training camp. (Mystics Photos)

Phoenix Mercury forward Lisa Harrison, who earned Kodak All-America honors as a senior at Tennessee, is one of 10 former Volunteers currently in the WNBA. Harrison was a member of the 1991 NCAA Championship Team, one of six UT teams Summit has coached to the title in her 29-year career.

Indiana Fever forward Tamika Catchings, the 2002 WNBA Rookie of the Year, is also a product of Tennessee and Coach Summitt's influence. Catchings was a four-time Kodak All-American at Tennessee and is one of only two Lady Vols to score 2,000+ points and pull down 1,000 rebounds.

Catchings and Harrison took some time to share their thoughts on the amazing accomplishment of their former coach.

Q: What is your most memorable Pat Summitt moment?
Catchings: My most memorable moment with Pat was seeing her on t.v. when I was in the eighth grade. I thought to myself the same thing I think now... "that is a coach that I would love to play for. She has so much heart and determination and fire. I would love to be coached by someone who loves the game as much as I do!”

Q: What are the most important things you learned playing for Coach Summitt?
Catchings: She taught me that in the game of basketball there is another speed other than fast and out of control. I became poised and added another element to my game. Also, by surrounding us with the best players, it allowed all of us to elevate our game to another level.

Tennessee Players in the WNBA Carla McGhee '90 Tonya Edwards '90 Lisa Harrison '93 Nikki McCray '95 Michelle Marciniak '96 Tiffani Johnson '98 Chamique Holdsclaw '99 Tamika Catchings '01 Semeka Randall '01 Michelle Snow '02

Harrison: I always say whenever anyone asks me about Pat Summitt – and I’ve been asked that question quite a few times – is the biggest compliment I can give to Pat and the university is that if I had to do it all over again, I’d go back to the University of Tennessee. As hard as it was, and it was the most difficult thing I’ve ever had to do in my life – there were times when I cried, when I wanted to go home – I would go back there and do it again. The discipline you learn, the work ethic you learn, how to fight and be a winner, how to be responsible, how to be a respectful person, all of those things are not only important for basketball, but they’re important in life. It’s totally invaluable what I learned at Tennessee and I’m so lucky I got to play for Pat.

Q: What qualities do you think have made Pat Summitt such a special and successful coach?
Catchings: Pat's willingness and desire to work hard and to put in an all-or-nothing effort have helped her be the coach that she is and reach the point that she has. She has always put her all into making her players not only great basketball players, but great people and great friends. She's found players that she could have a mutual respect with, and in return it makes it easier for her to coach and for them to play for her.

Q: Can you talk about the significance of 800?
Harrison: I think the significance of 800, number one, is that it shows Pat’s commitment to women’s basketball and to the University of Tennessee. To get that number of wins at one university says a lot about her commitment. What makes her so special as a coach is that she’s a winner. She’s in the game to win. But the biggest thing for me when I think about her is what a great teacher she is of the game of basketball. And not only is she a great coach and a great teacher, but she truly cares about her players. She wants her players to develop as people, not only as basketball players.

Q: How important has Pat been to women’s basketball?
Harrison: One of the things that is so impressive about Pat and the University of Tennessee is that they have been at the top for so long. They’ve been able to stay at the top. Unlike UConn, one of the premier programs now that has come along in the last 10 years, Tennessee has been around since the 80's and been one of the top teams in the country, and has been able to maintain that. That’s very hard to do, to sustain that. The popularity of women’s basketball, the fact that you can see games regularly on TV now, seeing the commitment to women’s basketball and that women can really play the game, I think Pat and Tennessee have really helped develop the popularity and the growth of the sport.

It also helps the sport to have a positive role model like Pat Summitt. There’s never been any controversy with Tennessee. The program has a 100 percent graduation rate, there’s not anything negative you can say about the program, and what she’s accomplished has been all positive, and that’s really a rarity.

Q: Any memory that stands out when you look back?
Harrison: Pat can be a really intimidating person, and to me she was. But I totally respect her. I’m very honored that I was able to go through that program. I’m very happy for her. She’s definitely done a lot for me and for women’s basketball, and I’ll always be grateful for that.