It was a record that only stood for not even six years, but Stanford University women’s basketball coach Tara VanDerveer has now put her name in the record books.
She became the all-time winningest coach in NCAA history when Stanford defeated Oregon State University 65-56 in Palo Alto, California.
For VanDerveer it was win number 1,203, which put her one clear of former Duke University men’s basketball coach Mike Krzyzewski.
VanDerveer, 70, is in her 45th year of coaching and 38th at Stanford. She has led the Cardinal to three national championships, and was the head coach for Team USA when they won Olympic gold in Atlanta 1996.
She downplayed her accomplishment after the game.
“It means I’ve coached a lot of great players, had great staff and worked at great universities. I’m just so blessed and so thankful,” she told broadcaster Pac-12 Network in the immediate aftermath of her record setting win.
Stanford is currently 17-2 on the season and ranked in the top 10. She has given no indication she’s ready to hang up her whistle anytime soon so who knows how high the total could get before she retires?
Krzyzewski, who coached Team USA to three straight Olympic gold medals from 2008 to 2016 was happy to concede the top spot to VanDerveer.
“This is a tremendous accomplishment for Tara VanDerveer, who is already one of the most accomplished coaches in the history of basketball,” he said in a statement. “This is yet another milestone to add to an amazing legacy.
“More important than all the astounding numbers and career accomplishments, she’s positively impacted countless lives as a coach and mentor. She remains a true guardian of our sport.”
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