( CNN ) -- Pat Summitt , the all-time winningest major college basketball coach , said Friday that it was 100 % her decision to step down as head coach of the Tennessee women 's team after her diagnosis with early-onset Alzheimer 's . Her statement came one day after an affidavit she filed , in which Summitt said she had felt forced out . `` It was entirely my decision to step down from my position as Head Coach of women 's basketball at the University of Tennessee . As I stated at my press conference in April when I announced my decision , I loved being the Head Coach for 38 years , but , 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 into a new role , '' Summitt said in a written statement Friday . In April , the coach announced her on-court retirement eight months after revealing her diagnosis . `` I did not then , and I do not now , feel that I was 'forced out ' by the University . Anyone who knows me knows that any such effort would have met with resistance . If my affidavit has caused confusion on that point , it needs to be dispelled , '' she said . Summitt lauded as she steps down . In her affidavit , Summitt described a meeting in March with athletics director Dave Hart , in which she said she was told she would no longer be coach after 38 seasons . Summit wrote that she had wanted to make that decision herself . `` This was very surprising to me and very hurtful , '' she said in her affidavit , which came in a lawsuit filed by a former media relations director for women 's sports , Debby Jennings . Jennings is suing the school for age and gender discrimination and for retaliation . Obama honors longtime Tennessee coach . Margie Nichols , vice chancellor for communications for the University of Tennessee , Knoxville , also released a statement Friday , hailing Summitt as a legend . `` Our goal through this transition has always been to respect her legacy as the best coach in America . We 're saddened that Coach Summitt has been drawn into this . We stand by Pat and her statements , both today and at her press conference in April , that it was her decision to step aside as head coach and become head coach emeritus of the Lady Vol basketball team , '' she said . `` We are eager to respond to the other allegations in the lawsuit and will do so through the judicial process . '' Summitt , who led the Lady Vols to eight national championships and whose 1,098 wins are the most in major college basketball history , remains involved in mentoring Tennessee players and recruiting as the team 's head coach emeritus through April 2013 .
Her statement comes the day after Summitt said in an interview that she felt left out . Summitt : ` ` Anyone who knows me knows that any such move would have met with resistance '' A college professor says she is ` ` saddened '' Summitt ` ` has been drawn into this '' Summitt won more than 1,000 games and eight national titles .