STANFORD, Calif. (AP) — Tara VanDerveer, the winningest basketball coach in NCAA historical past, introduced her retirement Tuesday evening after 38 seasons main the Stanford girls’s crew and 45 years total.
The 70-year-old VanDerveer surpassed Mike Krzyzewski for the wins document in January. The Corridor of Famer departs with 1,216 victories at Idaho, Ohio State and Stanford.
“Basketball is the best group challenge there’s and I’m so extremely grateful for each one who has supported me and our groups all through my teaching profession,” VanDerveer mentioned in an announcement. “I’ve been spoiled to teach the perfect and brightest at one of many world’s foremost establishments for practically 4 a long time.”
And as has been the plan for years, prime Cardinal assistant Kate Paye is about to take over this system, and Stanford mentioned in an announcement that negotiations with Paye are underway. Paye performed for VanDerveer from 1991-95 and has coached on her employees for 17 years.
Former Stanford participant and retired Arizona State coach Charli Turner Thorne reached out to VanDerveer instantly Tuesday.
“She has accomplished all of it so simply actually comfortable for her to take pleasure in life after teaching!” Turner Thorne mentioned in a textual content message to The Related Press. “When you understand you understand.”
VanDerveer’s legacy will probably be lengthy lasting. She all the time took time to mentor different coaches, swapping recreation movie with some or going to the visiting locker room to supply encouraging phrases and perception.
“Tara’s affect is each deep and large. I went to her very first camp at Stanford as a camper,” UCLA coach Cori Shut mentioned in a textual content to the AP. “I competed towards her and labored her camps as a participant. And I’ve now been competing towards her and studying from her for a few years as a coach. My teaching has been affected on so many ranges by Tara’s instance and direct mentorship at many crossroads. Congrats on an incredible profession Tara. Our recreation, the Pac-12 Convention, and my teaching is healthier due to you. Get pleasure from retirement. You positive have earned it.”
VanDerveer’s final day is scheduled for Could 8 — the thirty ninth anniversary of her hiring. And he or she plans to proceed working for the varsity and athletic division in an advisory position.
Her Stanford groups gained NCAA titles in 1990, ’92 and 2021 and reached the Ultimate 4 14 occasions.
VanDerveer took a 12 months away from Stanford to information the undefeated U.S. girls’s Olympic crew to a gold medal on the 1996 Atlanta Video games.
“Coupled with my time at Ohio State and Idaho, and as head coach of the US Nationwide Staff, it has been an unforgettable journey,” she mentioned. “The enjoyment for me was within the journey of every season, seeing a gaggle of younger girls work onerous for one another and type an unbreakable bond. Successful was a byproduct. I’ve cherished the sport of basketball since I used to be slightly lady, and it has given me a lot all through my life. I hope I’ve been in a position to give at the very least slightly bit again.”
For a lot of in girls’s basketball, the reply is a convincing sure.
“She’s a legend,” California coach and former Stanford participant and assistant Charmin Smith texted the AP. “The sport will miss her.”