A new era for Stanford women's basketball is set to take place following the retirement of longtime head coach Tara VanDerveer. On Tuesday, Stanford announced that their head coach of 38 seasons has decided to call it a career, per ESPN's Alexa Philippou. As of now, Stanford is in talks with longtime assistant coach Kate Paye for a potential succession.
In a press release by Stanford Athletics, VanDerveer gave a statement on her retirement.
“Basketball is the greatest group project there is and I am so incredibly thankful for every person who has supported me and our teams throughout my coaching career,” VanDerveer said. “I've been spoiled to coach the best and brightest at one of the world's foremost institutions for nearly four decades. Coupled with my time at Ohio State and Idaho, and as head coach of the United States National Team, it has been an unforgettable ride.”
“The joy for me was in the journey of each season, seeing a group of young women work hard for each other and form an unbreakable bond. Winning was a byproduct. I've loved the game of basketball since I was a little girl, and it has given me so much throughout my life. I hope I've been able to give at least a little bit back.”
Whether in local or international tournaments, Tara VanderVeer is a winner
The winningest basketball coach in NCAA history, Tara VanDerveer tallied a total of 1,216 wins throughout her storied career with Stanford, Ohio State and Idaho. She broke the record for most wins back in January when she recorded her 1,203rd victory, surpassing former Duke head coach Mike Krzyzewski.
She's also cemented her name in the international scene. Taking a leave of absence from Stanford in 1996, VanDerveer took over the reins of the Women's National Team to take home the Olympic gold medal in the Atlanta Olympics. The tenured coach also managed to win gold for the country in the 1994 Goodwill Games.
Tara VanDerveer will always be a Stanford household name
VanDerveer's decorated tenure at Stanford was nothing short of successful. Through nearly four decades at the helm, the 70-year-old tallied three National Championships (1990, 1992, 2021) and 13 Final Four appearances. Some of her many recognitions include five National Coach of the Year Awards, a John Wooden Legends of Coaching Award and of course, her Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame induction in 2011.
During their NCAA championship campaign in the 2020-21 season, VanDerveer and Stanford women's basketball cruised past their first four opponents before surviving with one-point wins in the Final Four and the National Championship. In the Final Four, Stanford and South Carolina's game went down to a thrilling final possession. Up by a point, the Cardinal committed an inbound turnover in the final seconds, resulting in a Gamecocks fastbreak. Fortunately for Stanford, South Carolina missed the transition layup and the tip-in attempt that followed at the buzzer.
In the title game against Arizona, VanDerveer's squad found themselves up by one again with their opponents holding the ball in the final possession. The Cardinal were able to execute a defensive stop on then-Wildcat star Aari McDonald, whose buzzer-beating attempt from downtown was off the mark.
Winning her third and final championship that year, Tara VanDerveer appeared in three more March Madness runs before ending her story with the Cardinal on Tuesday. Watching Stanford without VanDerveer on the sidelines will surely be an unfamiliar sight for the university's supporters. Nevertheless, the coach leaves behind a great legacy that will always make her name synonymous with the school.
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