Two days after Pat Summitt's affidavit was added to former Lady Vol sports information director Debby Jennings' lawsuit against the University of Tennessee, Summitt says that she was not "forced out" by the university.
"I did not then, and I do not new, feel that I was 'forced out' by the University," Summitt said in her statement. "Anyone who knows me knows that any such effort would have met with resistance."
Wednesday evening news surfaced that an affidavit on behalf of Summitt was being added to Jennings' lawsuit in which she claims that athletic director Dave Hart and the University of Tennessee informed Summitt that she would not be coaching the Lady Vols during the 2012-2013 season during a private meeting.
"During this one-on-one meeting, Dave Hart indicated to me that would not be coaching the Lady Vols Basketball Team in the next school year (2012-2013), and that he planned to name Holly Warlick as the head coach," Summitt swore in the affidavit.
Summitt then went on to say, "This was very surprising to me and very hurtful as that was a decision that I would have liked to have made the season after consulting with my family, doctor, colleagues, and friends and not be told this by Mr. Hart. I felt this was wrong."
Summitt, however, backtracked on these statements in her release on Friday.
"It was entirely my decision to step down from my position as Head Coach of women's basketball at the University of Tennessee," the release said.
Summitt later states, "After consultation with my son, my doctors, my lawyer, and several close friends, I concluded that the time had come to move into the future and step onto a new role."
UT responded to these developments in an official statement from vice chancellor of communications Margie Nichols.
"We are saddened that Coach Summitt has been drawn into this," Nichols said. "We stand by Pat and her statements, both today and at her press conference in April, that it was her decision to step aside and become head coach emeritus of the Lady Vols basketball team."