STANFORD, Calif. — Tara VanDerveer lent her time and effort to a tender Dawn Staley in the back of the scenes years earlier than the South Carolina coach began successful championships or delivering an improbable undefeated season.
The Hall of Fame Stanford coach did the similar for her Pac-12 opponents.
For Cori Close. For Lindsay Gottlieb. For Charmin Smith. For Charli Turner Thorne. And for Kate Paye, who will turn into VanDerveer’s successor now that the 70-year-old women’s basketball pioneer is retiring.
Nearly everyone has a tale of ways VanDerveer went out of her solution to do one thing type alongside the way in which all through her adorned, four-decade occupation. She loved her position in serving to the game any approach she may just. And now, she is leaving on a prime observe.
The winningest basketball coach in NCAA historical past introduced her retirement Tuesday evening after 38 seasons main the Stanford women’s staff and 45 years total.
VanDerveer surpassed Mike Krzyzewski for the wins record in January. She departs with 1,216 victories at Idaho, Ohio State and Stanford.
“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 mentioned in a observation. “I’ve been spoiled to coach the best and brightest at one of the world’s foremost institutions for nearly four decades.”
And as has been the plan for years, height Cardinal assistant Paye is ready to take over this system, and Stanford mentioned in a observation that negotiations with Paye are underway. Paye performed for VanDerveer from 1991-95 and has coached on her personnel for 17 years.
In 2013, Gottlieb was once training Southern California, which performed in the similar NCAA Tournament regional as Stanford. When VanDerveer’s top-seeded Cardinal have been eradicated via Georgia and Cal needed to face the Bulldogs subsequent, VanDerveer reached out to congratulate Gottlieb and be offering to lend a hand with the sport plan.
The second-seeded Golden Bears went on to achieve this system’s simplest Final Four.
After beating Staley and South Carolina 70-32 on Nov. 26, 2010, VanDerveer made her solution to the Gamecocks’ locker room in Maples Pavilion for a postgame pep communicate.
“For me being on the West Coast I had a front-row seat to all those things,” Gottlieb mentioned via telephone Tuesday evening, fondly remembering VanDerveer attaining out after Cal beat LSU. “The first call after that win was from Tara and she asked if we wanted the Georgia scout — after her season had just ended. Those are things you don’t forget. It shapes the way you treat opponents, it shapes the way you treat other coaches.”
Stanford, which misplaced to N.C. State in a regional semifinal this year after final season’s second-round defeat at house to Mississippi, will play within the Atlantic Coast Conference subsequent season after the Pac-12 imploded — adjustments that VanDerveer referred to as “sad.”
“From the time I wrote Tara a letter as a senior in college until coaching against her 25 years later she has always been the model for game-planning, for excellence and for growing our game,” Gottlieb mentioned, “and I think our prevailing feeling should be gratitude for everything she’s done for all of us.”
Turner Thorne, a former Stanford participant who later coached Arizona State and is now retired, reached out to VanDerveer right away after listening to Tuesday’s news.
“She has done it all so just really happy for her to enjoy life after coaching!” Turner Thorne mentioned in a textual content message to The Associated Press. “When you know you know.”
Coaches who have been mentored via VanDerveer mentioned her legacy can be long-lasting.
“Tara’s influence is both deep and wide. I went to her very first camp at Stanford as a camper,” UCLA coach Close mentioned in a textual content to the AP. “I competed against her and worked her camps as a player. And I have now been competing against her and learning from her for many years as a coach. My coaching has been affected on so many levels by Tara’s example and direct mentorship at many crossroads. Congrats on an amazing career Tara. Our game, the Pac-12 Conference, and my coaching is better because of you. Enjoy retirement. You sure have earned it.”
VanDerveer’s final day is scheduled for May 8 — the thirty ninth anniversary of her hiring. She plans to proceed running for the athletic division in an advisory position.
Her Stanford groups received NCAA titles in 1990, ’92 and 2021 and reached the Final Four 14 occasions.
Rosalyn Gold-Onwude performed at the 2008 Final Four squad and is delighted concerning the strides her recreation has made since.
“Whatever helped her decide, she deserves it all,” Gold-Onwude mentioned in a textual content to the AP. “She steps away knowing her work was part of making all this possible, and she deserves all the rest, she’s earned it! I’m happy for her. Thankful for her.”
VanDerveer took a year clear of Stanford to steer the undefeated U.S. women’s Olympic staff to a gold medal on the 1996 Atlanta Games.
“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,” she mentioned. “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.”
For many in women’s basketball, the solution is a powerful sure.
“She’s a legend. The game will miss her,” Smith, the present California coach and previous Stanford participant and assistant, texted the AP. “I’m grateful for everything Tara has done to contribute to the coach I am today.”