University of Tennessee iconic Hall of Fame women's basketball coach Pat Summitt has revealed that she is battling dementia.

"Throughout my career, I have always made it a point that my life and our basketball program were an open book," Summitt said in a video statement released by UT. "With that in mind, I have something to share with my Tennessee family, the University, the boosters and the fans of Lady Vol basketball.

"Once last season concluded, I addressed some ongoing concerns regarding my health. After consulting with my local physicians, I decided to visit the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn. Earlier this year the doctors at the Mayo Clinic diagnosed me with an early onset dementia, Alzheimer's-type at the age of 59."

UT had planned to announce the news later this afternoon, but the timetable was accelerated once news began to leak about one of the most recognizable figures in all of women's athletics for parts of the past five decades. As noted earlier, Summitt will and has already started to lean more on her assistant coaches, Holly Warlick, Mickie DeMoss and Dean Lockwood.

"I plan to continue to be your coach. For that reason, I will be relying on my outstanding coaching staff like never before. We've always collaborated on every facet of Lady Vol basketball, and now you will see Holly Warlick, Mickie DeMoss and Dean Lockwood taking on more responsibility as their duties were changing significantly," Summitt said. "I love being your coach and the privilege to go to work every day with our outstanding Lady Vol basketball student-athletes. I appreciate the complete support of UT Chancellor Dr. Jimmy Cheek and UT athletics director Joan Cronan to continue coaching at the University of Tennessee as long as the good Lord is willing. I've been honest and I've shared my health concerns with you and now will move forward to the business at hand, coaching a great group of Lady Vols. For the time being I hope you will understand my privacy regarding this matter. Thank you."

Summitt and other Lady Vol members have been calling former players today to inform them that the legendary coach is battling a form of dementia.

Preparing to enter her 38th season atop the Lady Vols' program, the 59-year-old Summitt owns eight national titles, 1,071 wins and the court at Thompson-Boling Arena was renamed The Summitt years ago following yet another of her numerous milestones.

Summitt's lone child, son Tyler, a walk-on for the Vols' basketball team, commented in a statement released by UT.

"Pat Summitt is not only my mom, but also an incredible role model and mentor for me," Tyler Summitt said. "It seems like she teaches me something new every day, and she is currently giving me one of the best life lessons of all: to have the courage to be open, honest, and face the truth.

"This will be a new chapter for my mom and me, and we will continue to work as a team like we always have done. We both appreciate the continued support of the Lady Vol family. Our faith is in the Lord and we trust that God has a plan for us. Looking forward, nobody is as ready for the 2011-12 basketball season to start as much as the Summitt family. God Bless."

Click Here to view this Link.Considered among the finest coaching staffs in all of college basketball, regardless of gender, Warlick and DeMoss, a former head coach at Kentucky, as well as Lockwood, are taking on more of the day-to-day operations of the program while the legendary Summitt fights for her health.

"It takes amazing courage for Pat to come forward and discuss her health with her players, our fans and the entire country, but that's who she is. Pat Summitt stands for courage and integrity," Cheek said in a statement from UT. "We will stand behind her and support her in every way possible. We look forward to her continued leadership as the Lady Vols head coach and I know that even through this adversity she will be an inspiration to all of us."

On Sunday night, Interim Vice Chancellor and Director of Athletics Joan Cronan during a radio interview praised the progress of the Lady Vols' basketball program, specifically pointing out that Summitt and her players were working hard to prepare for the coming season.

"Pat Summitt is our head coach and she will continue to be. She is an icon not only for women's basketball but for all of women's athletics," Cronan said in the statement. "For Pat to stand-up and share her health news is just a continuing example of her courage.

"Life is an unknown and none of us has a crystal ball. But I do have a record of knowing what Pat Summitt stands for; excellence, strength, honesty and courage."

Summitt's Knoxville specialist Dr. Amy Bentley, of Internal Medicine Associates, indicated in the UT release that after Summitt's diagnosis, "appropriate treatment was initiated."

After a pair of exhibition games, the Lady Vols will tip off Summitt's 38th season Nov. 13 at home against Pepperdine.