Roughly 43 years after incomes her first victory as a head coach, Stanford’s Tara VanDerveer is now alone atop the all-time record.
Already a Basketball Corridor of Famer, VanDerveer added to her unbelievable resume, clinching victory No. 1,203 of her profession in a 65-56 win over Oregon State, passing former Duke HC Mike Krzyzewski for probably the most ever.
Humbled by the accolade, an appreciative VanDerveer credited the faculties and the gamers she’s coached, selecting to make use of her huge second to highlight ladies’s basketball as a complete.
“I need to carry consideration to the great thing about ladies’s basketball and the wonderfulness of those gamers who work so exhausting,” VanDerveer stated by way of the Pac-12 Community. “And I am so jealous as a result of I by no means acquired to do what they get to do, however I will watch a bit of woman’s dream play out by way of them.”
In the meantime, Krzyzewski referred to as VanDerveer’s feat a “super accomplishment” in a heartfelt assertion.
“That is one more milestone so as to add to a tremendous legacy,” Krzyzewski stated by way of Danny Emerman of the Mercury Information. “Extra vital than all of the astounding numbers and profession accomplishments, she’s positively impacted numerous lives as a coach and a mentor. Tara stays a real guardian of our sport.”
Over a 45-year teaching profession, VanDerveer has gained three nationwide titles and coached within the Olympics, main Crew USA in 1996. Nevertheless, Sunday’s milestone is not the tip. It is simply one other chapter for the basketball lifer.
At 70 years previous, VanDerveer continues to be going sturdy, main the Cardinals. Each time doable, all through all of the congratulatory phrases and tributes, she turned the eye to her workforce and what lay forward.
“This was actually thrilling, however I advised our workforce, ‘That is what it feels wish to win a nationwide championship,’ you are simply so excited, you are completely satisfied,” VanDerveer stated. “I would wish to construct on this and get higher.”
