Tennessee Lady Vols basketball coach Pat Summitt was already honored once this week with the title of head coach emeritus, following her recent resignation; now she’s receiving another distinction, and it’s the highest in the land.

Congrats to Pat Summitt, who will receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation's highest civilian honor!

—
  (@WNBA) April 20, 2012

Summitt walked away from Tennessee this week after it was revealed she was battling early-onset dementia. Longtime assistant coach Holly Warlick will take over; Summitt will continue to support the program from afar.

Summitt, who turns 60 later this year, coached the Lady Vols for 38 seasons between 1974 and 2012. She won 1,098 games, more than any college coach in history, and captured eight national championships. Most recently, her teams won back-to-back national titles in 2007 and ’08.