Susan Summons

Susan Summons is recognized as one of the most decorated and influential women's basketball coaches in American collegiate history. She began her coaching career at Roxbury Community College in Boston, where she had previously played as a point guard. At Roxbury Community College, Summons compiled a record of 57-8. She later accepted the head coaching position at Miami Dade College, where she has established a prominent women's basketball program.

Before her coaching tenure, Summons played professional basketball with the WBL New Jersey Gems and New England Gulls. Her contributions to women's basketball have been acknowledged at the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame in Knoxville, Tennessee, where she was named one of the Trailblazers and Pioneers of the Game.

At Miami Dade College, Summons has developed the women's basketball program into a nationally recognized team. She has achieved over 700 wins among active basketball coaches and is the first African American woman in the NJCAA to reach this milestone. Summons has led her teams to 24 FCCAA State Championship appearances. In addition to her coaching responsibilities, she has served as a professor in the Life Sciences, Health and Wellness Department and has been named a two-time Endowed Teaching Chair at Miami Dade College. More than 95 percent of her players have continued their education at four-year institutions.

Summons' career includes numerous honors, such as the WBCA National Coach of the Year Award, three-time USA Basketball Assistant (Bronze Medal), and recognition as a Top 100 Most Influential Sports Educator in America and Top 50 Most Influential Business Professional in South Florida. She became the first African American active coach at a community college to be inducted into the National Hall of Fame, marking her sixth Hall of Fame induction. Her commitment to education and athletics has earned her seven Hall of Fame honors. Summons has also received a Proclamation Award naming a Susan Summons Day in Miami, Beaumont, and Boston.

Beyond basketball, Summons is a motivational speaker, community leader, radio personality, author, sports educator, professor, master teacher, and speechwriter. She is the founder of the nonprofit organization Best of the Rest Stars Inc., which provides basketball training for girls and boys. As a WBL Pro Legend, she was recognized with a special on-court appearance at an Unrivaled game, an event dedicated to honoring the history of women's basketball. Known as the Dean of coaches, Summons holds the distinction of being Florida's winningest women's basketball coach, reflecting her impact as a mentor, educator, and advocate for women in sports.