The Stanford Cardinals recently defeated the Oregon State Beavers and the concluding score of the game was 65-56. With the win, head coach Tara VanDerveer has made NCAA history as she became the only women’s team head coach to accumulate 1,203 victories in her career.
Stanford's Tara VanDerveer won her 1,203rd game as a college basketball coach — breaking Coach K's all-time record.
Nike's gift to VanDerveer: pic.twitter.com/yVbDQa5UMF
— Front Office Sports (@FOS) January 22, 2024
According to Front Office Sports, “Tara VanDerveer has coached college basketball for over 45 years.
She’s led Team USA at the Olympics, won three national titles with Stanford, and is already in the Naismith Hall of Fame.
She just won her 1,203rd career game — breaking Coach K’s record for the most all-time.”
“Stanford’s Tara VanDerveer won her 1,203rd game as a college basketball coach — breaking Coach K’s all-time record.”
By clutching this win, VanDerveer has broken the record of former Duke men’s basketball coach Mike Krzyzewski. The former Duke’s head coach concluded his 42-year-long-standing career in 2019 with 1,202 victories, according to ESPN.
The all-time winningest coach in NCAA basketball history.
Only Her.https://t.co/0NmdI94wJo#GoStanford pic.twitter.com/AEQNm7SRom
— Stanford WBB 🤓🏀 (@StanfordWBB) January 21, 2024
Tara loves the game of basketball and it loves her back 🫶🏀#GoStanford pic.twitter.com/fiYsUd4ZiC
— Stanford WBB 🤓🏀 (@StanfordWBB) January 22, 2024
1,203 🐐 @StanfordWBB Coach Tara VanDerveer chats with @autumnjohnsontv on becoming the winningest coach in NCAA basketball history! #NCAAWBB pic.twitter.com/6Ov6f0zUCQ
— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessWBB) January 22, 2024
NCAA Vice President of Women’s Basketball, Lynn Holzman, congratulates @StanfordWBB coach Tara VanDerveer on her historic achievement. 🏀 #NCAAWBB pic.twitter.com/f7oM9s28IY
— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessWBB) January 22, 2024
It's always been about family 🏠#GoStanford pic.twitter.com/RB7MNcc5Jz
— Stanford WBB 🤓🏀 (@StanfordWBB) January 22, 2024
1,203 wins, 1,203 tallies.
A jacket fit for the 🐐, courtesy of @Nike #GoStanford pic.twitter.com/VKaAMh54HV
— Stanford WBB 🤓🏀 (@StanfordWBB) January 22, 2024
As per ESPN, VanDerveer had shared, “I’m very appreciative of all the great players I’ve coached and the great places I’ve been and the attention this brought to women’s basketball. I’m not always really comfortable in the limelight, but I understand that that kind of goes with the job.”
Mike Krzyzewski has also shared his message with one of the greatest women’s basketball coaches, saying, “This is a tremendous accomplishment for Tara VanDerveer, who is already one of the most accomplished coaches in the history of basketball. 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 a mentor. Tara remains a true guardian of our sport.”
The history-making head coach further shared, “I told our team, I said, ‘This is what feels like winning a national championship. You’re just so excited and you’re so happy. I would like to build on this and get better.”
VanDerveer was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2011. The head coach has collected an incredible number of wins and she also brought home the gold medal at the Atlanta Olympics when she led the U.S. women’s national team in 1996. Her relentless determination and achievements also laid the foundations for the launch of the WNBA.
