Pat Summitt: "I am very demanding"

"I think that a lot of people would perceive my style as being intimidating," former Tennessee women's basketball coach Pat Summitt told 60 Minutes in 1999 (clips in player, above). "And although I don't want to intimidate kids, I am very demanding."

It is this demanding, driven attitude that players and fans are recalling since Summitt's death was announced today by her son, Tyler Summitt.

The late coach is also being remembered for her great success -- "the all-time winningest D-1 basketball coach in NCAA history," according to a statement released by Tyler Summitt, who said that his mother's death, at age 64, was due to early onset dementia, which she fought "with bravely fierce determination."

Determination is almost synonymous with Summitt.

When 60 Minutes profiled her in 1999, the coach's will to win was apparent both on and off the court. To one University of Tennessee player during a game, Summitt shouted: "You want to be average? There's so many average people in this world; it just annoys me."

The coach was equally tough on herself. When her team loses, she goes to bed for 24 hours, Summitt told 60 Minutes. "Oooh. You don't want to be around me," Summitt said. "I'm not a good loser. I get sick physically.... I take it to heart. I hate it."

All that heart and hard work paid off. Under Summitt's leadership, Tennessee's Lady Vols won 8 national championships, but Summitt's 38-year coaching career came to an end in 2012 when she stepped down as head coach due to her Alzheimer's diagnosis.

The elements of Summitt's success are many. Competition, determination, focus - all essential. But when 60 Minutes interviewed Summitt in 1999, we were surprised to hear her insights on her temperament. Summitt recalled the story of one player who told the coach that she needed more encouragement and less harsh treatment. At first, Summitt flatly rejected the suggestion, but then she gave it more thought.

Here's an exchange from that interview:

Pat Summitt: You know, sometimes I'm more stubborn than I am smart. But that time, I decided, "You need to be smart about this, and you need to give in."

60 Minutes / Vicki Mabrey: Was it easy to hear that?

Pat Summitt: Probably not at the time. But I could hear it in her voice. She meant it. She really needed it. She was about to break. And the one thing you never want to do is break their spirit. You know, you can upset them, but when you push to the point of breaking someone's spirit, now you've got a real problem, and you never know when they'll come back. I mean, you never know if they'll ever regain their composure or their confidence or their belief. And that's exactly what ‑‑ I listened.

60 Minutes / Vicki Mabrey: And what was the result?

Pat Summitt: Oh, a national championship.