University of Tennessee chancellor Jimmy Cheek, left, and Tennessee athletic director Dave Hart, congratulates Tennessee head coach Pat Summitt on Monday, March 12, 2012 at Summitt's home in Alcoa, Tenn., after it was announced that Tennessee received a second seed in the Des Moines regional of the NCAA tournament. With her are assistant coach Mickie DeMoss, left, and associate head coach Holly Warlick. (AP Photo/News Sentinel, Saul Young)

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - Veteran coach Mickie DeMoss is leaving Pat Summitt's Tennessee staff to take a position with the WNBA's Indiana Fever.

She is a 35-year veteran including eight years as head coach at Kentucky and Florida. DeMoss spent the past two seasons at Tennessee and 18 years previously with the Lady Vols.

She said in a news release from Tennessee she's always wanted to coach in the WNBA.

The 59-year-old Summitt announced in August she has early onset dementia, Alzheimer's type. Summitt has said she wants to coach as long she can.

The decision of whether Summitt returns for her 39th season or step down solely belongs to Summitt. She has two years left on her contract, and Tennessee officials have said they will support her in whatever she chooses to do.