Coaching Icons Pat Summit, Buddy Ryan Pass Away

2016 has been a year of loss. From music icons to pop culture fixtures, many people we grew up with on TV, radio and the playing field have passed away.

The sporting world got yet another double-dose of unfortunate news Tuesday morning.

Pat Summitt, the women's college basketball coach who guided the Tennessee Volunteers to eight national titles in 38 seasons at the university, died Tuesday morning at the age of 64. Her 1,098 wins are the most ever in NCAA history. She developed early onset dementia in 2011.

Later that morning, it was announced Buddy Ryan died at the age of 82. He coached in the NFL for 35 seasons, most famously as defensive coordinator of the Chicago Bears. His 46 Defense helped lead the Bears to 46-10 drubbing in Super Bowl XX. Players carried Ryan off the field after the game.

The news comes just a few of weeks after Muhammad Ali and Gordie Howe passed away within a week of each other.

Image credit: aaronisnotcool, Flickr