Summitt says she felt forced out at Tenn.

KNOXVILLE, Tenn., Oct. 5 (UPI) -- Hall of Fame former University of Tennessee women's basketball Coach Pat Summitt said she felt forced out after being diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer's.

Summitt, who announced her retirement as head coach in April, eight months after announcing her diagnosis, filed an affidavit in conjunction with a lawsuit filed against the school by former media director Debby Jennings, saying the decision to end her career was not her own, CNN reported Friday.

Summit said she had a meeting in March with Athletic Director Dave Hart and he told her she was being replaced as coach after 1,098 games in 38 seasons -- the most in the history of college basketball.

"This was very surprising to me and very hurtful," Summitt's affidavit reads.

Jennings' lawsuit, which names the school and Hart, said she told Hart she did not agree with the decision and he retaliated two months later by telling her she could either resign or be fired. The lawsuit alleges age and gender discrimination and retaliation.