The White House announced today that President Obama will award the Medal of Freedom to former Tennessee women's basketball coach and Alzheimer's cure advocate Pat Summitt.

Summitt, whose 1,098 wins is tops in college basketball history, retired this week after 38 seasons in part because she has early-onset Alzheimer's disease.

"Coach Summitt is an inspiration, both as the all-time winningest NCAA coach, and as someone who is willing to speak so openly and courageously about her battle with Alzheimer's," Obama said in a statement.

The Presidential Medal of Freedom is the nation's highest civilian honor, "presented to individuals who have made especially meritorious contributions to the security or national interests of the United States, to world peace, or to cultural or other significant public or private endeavors," said the White House.

The White House will announce other Medal of Freedom honorees later this year.

Obama also said in his statement:

"Pat's gift has always been her ability to push those around her to new heights, and over the last 38 years, her unique approach has resulted in both unparalleled success on the court and unrivaled loyalty from those who know her and those whose lives she has touched. Pat's coaching career may be over, but I'm confident that her work is far from finished. I look forward to awarding her this honor."

The White House said in a statement: