VanDerveer ends her record reign
Winningest coach in college history retiring after 38 years at university
After 38 years at Stanford University and compiling the most wins in college basketball history, Tara VanDerveer announced Tuesday night she would retire as the head coach of the Cardinal’s women’s team.
Stanford’s athletics department announced longtime assistant coach Kate Paye was in negotiations to become the program’s new head coach.
“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,” said VanDerveer in a statement. “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.”
VanDerveer, 70, spent 45 years as a head coach at Idaho (1978-80), Ohio State (1980-85) and Stanford (1985-95, 19962024), amassing an NCAA-record 1,216 victories. At Stanford, she led the team to three NCAA championships (1990, 1992 and 2021) and 14 Final Fours.
Speaking at a press conference at Stanford on Wednesday, VanDerveer highlighted her journey from a pre-Title IX women’s athlete to the perception of a challenging job at Stanford. She recounted her time being recruited from Ohio State to
“My 38 years as the head coach of the Stanford University women’s basketball team have been nothing short of magical. Stanford is a beautiful place with incredible people.”
Tara VanDerveer, Stanford head coach
coach Stanford, to her three national championship teams and the ones that didn’t win.
“My 38 years as the head coach of the Stanford University women’s basketball team have been nothing short of magical,” she said. “Stanford is a beautiful place with incredible people.”
The Cardinal were 30-6 in 2023-24, the season coming to an end March 29, with a 77-67 loss to North Carolina State in an NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 game. She stressed at her presser that her decision had nothing to do with the upcoming move to the Atlantic Coast Conference.
“I went into this year extremely motivated and it’s been a fantastic year … I wanted to enjoy every practice, every game,” VanDerveer said on Wednesday. “I’ve probably retired 20 times in my mind. It’s hard work. I wanted to give myself time when the season was finished, but the time has felt right. It has nothing to do with going to the ACC; that was a motivator to want to stay … My mom is 97 this year, and wanting to do things you want to do in your life and you realize this is not a dress rehearsal, this is your real life.
“I never thought I would be (ready to retire),” she said. “I kind of thought I’d keel over on the bench.”
Stanford played in the NCAA tourney in every season since 1988. All of them were under VanDerveer, except for 1995-96 when she stepped away to coach the U.S. women’s national team to a gold medal in the Atlanta Summer Olympics.
“I’m very happy for Tara that she is walking away when she wants to after she has accomplished so much in our game,” Cal head coach and former Stanford player Charmin Smith said in a text to the Chronicle. “She is a legend who has made this game better than how she found it.”
VanDerveer helped produce two WNBA No. 1 overall picks in Nneka Ogwumike (2012) and Chiney Ogwumike (2014) and dozens of other pro players. Recently graduated Cameron Brink is expected to be a lottery pick in next week’s WNBA draft.
“I think it’s wonderful she’s going out on top,” former player Jennifer Azzi told the Chronicle. “She’s had a career no one else will ever have.”
VanDerveer’s last day as head coach will be May 8, but she will remain in an advisory capacity. Stanford is preparing for its first season in the ACC this fall.
“Tara is one of one,” former Stanford player Jayne Appel said to the Chronicle. “Just because she is gone from the sidelines, she will still forever have an impact on this game, the players who played for her, and women’s sports. … A true gem for the game of basketball.”