Mystics Add Summitt as a Consultant (By Kathy Orton, Special to The
Washington Post, Friday, April 5, 2002; Page D03)

Washington Mystics Coach Marianne Stanley wants to win championships.
She wants to present team owner Abe Pollin with a WNBA championship
ring to match his NBA championship ring. That the Mystics have yet to
post a winning record in their five seasons as a WNBA franchise does
not deter her.

"There's no reason why we can't build this program into a
championship," Stanley said at an MCI Center news conference
yesterday to announce her hiring. "We will spend every single day
working to have championship caliber basketball played."

Tennessee women's basketball coach Pat Summitt also was introduced
yesterday as the team's player personnel consultant. She will remain
as coach of the the Lady Vols while advising the Mystics.

"We're thrilled to death to put together a dynamic duo," Washington
Sports & Entertainment President Susan O'Malley said.

Day-to-day basketball operations that were handled by former general
manager Melissa McFerrin, who resigned Jan. 4, now fall to senior
vice president of community relations Judy Holland-Burton. While
Summitt will advise the team on personnel decisions, Holland-Burton
will handle trades, travel arrangements and scheduling.

Stanley joined the Mystics last season as an assistant to Coach Tom
Maher, who resigned Jan. 4. She is the team's sixth coach.

Stanley, 47, spent more than 20 years in college coaching. She began
her career at Old Dominion, leading the Lady Monarchs to two AIAW
titles and an NCAA championship. She also coached at Pennsylvania,
Southern California, Stanford and California. Her overall record is
415-224. On April 27, she will be inducted into the Women's
Basketball Hall of Fame.

Although her remark about winning a championship may appear bold,
Stanley said it is not an idle promise.

"I don't make that statement lightly," Stanley said. "I definitely
don't say overnight we go from A to Z. That's not the way it
happens. . . . I don't know any shortcuts. I'm about roll up your
sleeves, get to work."

Summitt, 49, recently completed her 28th season at Tennessee. The
Lady Vols went 29-5 and advanced to their 13th Final Four under
Summitt. She has won six NCAA titles and is tied with Texas Coach
Jody Conradt atop the career wins list with 788 victories. In October
2000, she was inducted into the Naismith Hall of Fame.

Summitt said former Vol and current Mystic Chamique Holdsclaw was one
of the factors that drew her to Washington.

"Quite honestly she has had a lot to do with my interest," Summitt
said. "She is the best competitor under pressure that I've ever
coached. I want to see her get to that competitive level [again]."

Summitt will make the selections for the Mystics in the April 19 WNBA
draft in which Washington has the third and fourth picks. She said
she will not show any favoritism toward Tennessee players.

Summitt also said that she will not have a problem balancing her
roles as Tennessee coach and Mystics consultant. She plans to cut
back on her corporate speaking engagements in order to have more time
to devote to both jobs.

"I'm used to juggling a lot of different things," Summitt said. "I
can get to a lot of different places in a relatively short period of
time so you may see more of me than you expected to. . . . I'm there
when needed."