While Pat Summitt is my choice for the all-time greatest women's college basketball coach, the Tennessee legend is not without competition.

Here's my take on the six best coaches in women's history:

GENO AURIEMMA

Geno Auriemma has won two NCAA titles in the past three seasons. Credentials: Connecticut's coach is a four-time Naismith Coach of the Year and has guided the Huskies to three national championships in the past eight seasons; only coach to produce two perfect seasons (35-0 in 1995, 39-0 in 2002); program boasts four Olympians and 10 All-Americans; currently 478-18 in 18 seasons and riding a 53-game winning streak. On Auriemma: He can be brutally honest, and if one of his players voices any disagreement with his coaching, he's not afraid to tell them that he doesn't care what they think. He might yell. He might raise his voice. And he typically drives his point home with a little humor and sarcasm. But at the end of the day, his players can look at him and still know he cares. Auriemma takes immense pride at getting the best out of his players. He is their vision, their eyes for the future. And though his players don't always see where he's going with his critiques and coaching at the time, he does what he needs to do to make them better.

LEON BARMORE

Leon Barmore took Tech to five NCAA title game appearances. Credentials: Former Louisiana Tech coach retired last August with an overall record of 576-87; produced 20 consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances; résumé includes nine Final Four bids, five trips to the NCAA title game and the 1988 national championship; won at least 30 games in 13 seasons; in 2000-01, became the first coach in D-I college basketball history to record six consecutive 30-win seasons; all-time winning percentage (.869) at La. Tech ranks No.1 among men's or women's collegiate coaches; coached 12 Kodak All-Americans and two Wade Trophy winners. On Barmore: When he was a point guard for Louisiana Tech's men's team, Barmore was smart as a fox. He knew the game back then, and only refined his understanding over the years. Fundamentally he was a very sound coach, and produced many great guards. He liked to push tempo and play in-your-face defense, always looking to disrupt and take away his opponents' strengths. Only a handful of programs have been able to maintain their success all the way from their AIAW days. Louisiana Tech is one of them, and has Barmore, who was a father figure to many of his players, to thank for it.

JODY CONRADT

Jody Conradt guided Texas to the first-ever perfect season. Credentials: Currently 797-262 in 33 seasons at Texas and on the verge of reaching the 800-win plateau; four-time national coach of year; Naismith Hall of Fame inductee in October 1998; first women's team to go unbeaten to win NCAA title (34-0 in 1986); coached eight Kodak All-Americans; led Texas to 183-game winning streak against Southwest Conference teams, which ranks among longest win streaks for any sport in college history. On Conradt: One of the first things you notice about the Longhorns is how freely they play. Conradt gives them structure, but she also allows them to play and adjust within the context of the game and enjoy it. When her players make mistakes, she doesn't rip them apart. She lets you know you're not getting it done, but she encourages flexibility and risk. Conradt is the definition of a pioneer. She put together the first unbeaten season in D-I women's history, then produced the most impressive winning streak in the sports world. And don't forget that while serving as Texas' director of women's athletics for nine years, the 10 athletic programs she maintained won six NCAA titles and 40 conference championships.

BILLIE MOORE

Billie Moore lost just 15 games in eight seasons at Cal State Fullerton. Credentials: First coach to lead two schools to national championships -- Cal State Fullerton in 1970 and UCLA in '78 (both AIAW); career mark of 436-196 in 24 years; coached her teams to 10 conference championships with 16 postseason appearances; was head coach of the first women's Olympic basketball team, winning the silver medal at the 1976 Montreal Games; member of 2000 Naismith Hall of Fame class. On Moore: Before there was Pat Summitt, there was Billie Moore, who really was the one to set the standard with tough practices and strict discipline. She was great to play for but held very difficult, physically demanding practices. But we were always prepared, even if it meant three-a-days. Moore, who coached alongside John Wooden at UCLA, took great players and made them better. She was great with different zones and strategies, and really helped women's basketball evolve through the early years. She understood this game, and knew where it was headed before it ever got there. Summitt credits Moore for her success: "Billie Moore has had more influence on my coaching career than anyone."

PAT SUMMITT

Pat Summitt is a Naismith Hall of Famer and six-time NCAA champion. Credentials: Winningest coach in women's college basketball history is on verge of becoming sixth coach (in men's or women's hoops) to reach 800-win plateau; Naismith Coach of the Century and Hall of Famer has guided Tennessee to six NCAA titles, second only to John Wooden; surpassed Wooden with 13th Final Four appearance last March; coached 11 Olympians and 16 All-Americans. On Summitt: She has set the standard in women's college basketball, and her demanding schedules are the biggest example of how she has influenced the game. These days, every team across the nation tries to put together a tough nonconference schedule. Summitt did it first, and although she took some early lumps, her willingness to put it on the line has paid off. Her vision always has been long-term, on what happens in March, not what your record is heading into March. And now, teams all over the country are embracing that philosophy. The bottom line? At 50, Summitt has many years ahead and is only getting better.

TARA VanDERVEER

Tara VanDerveer won NCAA titles in 1990 and '92. Credentials: Two-time NCAA champion (1990 and '92) has led Stanford to five Final Four appearances and 10 Pac-10 titles; notched five 30-win seasons and produced two Naismith Players of the Year and six Kodak All-Americans; three-time national coach of the year, who is 560-157 in 24 seasons, guided Team USA to a 66-0 mark in 1995-96, which included a gold medal at the Atlanta Olympics. On VanDerveer: For as much as Summitt dominated the later part of the decade, VanDerveer ruled the early 1990s, winning two titles in three years and reaching the Final Four three consecutive seasons. She is a tremendous coach and one of the sport's greatest teachers. But for as detailed and organized as VanDerveer is, she's also very dedicated. She lives and breathes the game and is always in the gym trying to make it better. Because of Stanford's high academic standards, VanDerveer has been fortunate to recruit some brilliant student-athletes. But they have fit into her program perfectly. VanDerveer is a smart, hard-nosed coach, and with players such as Katy Steding, Sonja Henning, Jen Azzi and Val White, the Cardinal often outsmarted their opponents and outplayed them.

Nancy Lieberman, an ESPN analyst and Hall of Famer, is a regular contributor to ESPN.com's women's basketball coverage. Contact her at www.nancylieberman.com.