Expanding Pat Summitt's influence of female leaders motivates son Tyler to start business

Pat Summitt’s legacy rests largely on a foundation formed by her career as Tennessee’s legendary women’s basketball coach and someone who bravely fought a public battle against Alzheimer’s disease.

Those twin beams are sturdy, but Summitt’s son doesn’t think they fully support her life’s work.

“I think she was a trailblazer for women, not just women’s basketball,” Tyler Summitt told the USA TODAY NETWORK - Tennessee. “She was someone who took young girls and turned them into strong women.”

June deadline:Pat Summitt Foundation needs help to make license plate goal

That dimension of Summitt’s life has served as the basis for creating the Pat Summitt Leadership Group. Tyler has enlisted the help of an accomplished consulting duo to formulate a plan for converting his mother’s leadership lessons into a multi-dimensional resource for private businesses and schools.

Pat Summitt coached for 38 seasons at Tennessee, winning 1,098 games and leading the Lady Vols to eight national championships. She announced in August 2011 that she had been diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer’s and later that year created a foundation along with Tyler to help raise funds and awareness to fight the disease.

She stepped down as coach following the 2011-12 season. She died on June 28, 2016.

More:Tyler Summitt living 'other life' after mother's death, his resignation

Tyler Summitt said that the plan for the leadership group has been 10 months in the making. The first event was Tuesday in Atlanta with former Lady Vols All-American Candace Parker and former Lady Vols athletic director Joan Cronan speaking to approximately 300 employees at Coca-Cola. The event was streamed nationally for other Coca-Cola employees.

Tyler Summitt resigned  as Louisiana Tech’s women’s coach in 2016 after admitting to an inappropriate relationship.

The sole owner of the business venture, he had been attending  graduate school at UT. The pace of the project, though, has resulted in him suspending his studies.

“Things starting taking off so much with the leadership group, l felt like I had to decide,” he said. “I put the MBA on hold.”

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The leadership group’s website states its intention to “activate, maximize and optimize the educational and inspirational messages derived from the life, legend, legacy and leadership lessons of Coach Pat Summitt and convert them into highly relevant, brand-appropriate programs focused on 'Leadership Excellence' and 'Executive Coaching for Women.' ”

The mission statement went on to say the company's “lines of business” are publication, education and training and film.

More:Former Lady Vols on Pat Summitt death a year later: 'We talk longer and hug harder'

Regarding the latter aspect, Tyler Summitt said that he’s had “more than one” offer to do a movie about his mother’s life.

In creating the leadership group, Tyler Summitt turned to Ira and Kim Blumenthal, who are based in Atlanta. They co-founded Co-Opportunities, Inc., a consulting company that has counseled such companies as Disney, McDonald’s, United Artists, Marriott and Exxon, among others.

The Blumenthals have been retained as consultants by Coca-Cola for 26 years.

Tyler said Ira is CEO of the leadership group while Kim is chief operating officer and president.

Like his role with the foundation, Tyler’s visibility regarding the leadership group will be as prominent as necessary. He was at UT on Wednesday, meeting with university officials about the business. His priorities revolve around his mother.

“I see my role,’ he said, “as protecting my mom’s legacy.”