April 08--Tyler Summitt has stepped down after two seasons as the women's basketball coach at Louisiana Tech over what he indicated was an inappropriate relationship.
"I am profoundly disappointed in myself for engaging in a relationship that has negatively affected the people I love, respect and care about the most," the 25-year-old son of legendary Tennessee coach Pat Summitt said in a statement Thursday.
"My hope, plans and prayers are to repair those relationships. I am appreciative of the opportunity I was given to coach at Louisiana Tech. I am heartbroken that my time has ended in Ruston, but because of my respect for the institution, it is best that I resign. I am hopeful the media and the public will respect the privacy of my family and me as we deal with this difficult situation I have caused."
Summitt played two years on the men's basketball team at Tennessee, where he also spent two seasons as a student assistant coach for his mother's team. He went on to serve as an assistant coach at Marquette for two years.
Summitt married AnDe Ragsdale on June 1, 2013, and was hired by Louisiana Tech the following April. He was 30-31 in his two seasons with the Lady Techsters.
The university didn't mention anything about an inappropriate relationship when announcing Summitt's resignation earlier Thursday, saying the move was made for "personal reasons."
"The university has accepted his resignation and appreciates the contributions he has made to the growth and success of the Lady Techsters program during his tenure," the university said in a statement. "Louisiana Tech will immediately begin the process of selecting a new head coach to lead the women's basketball program and student-athletes forward. Louisiana Tech wishes Tyler and his family the best of luck in the future."
