Tara VanDerveer sets college basketball record with 1,203rd coaching win
Tara VanDerveer became the all-time winningest coach in college basketball history on Sunday, passing former Duke and Army coach Mike Krzyzewski with her 1,203rd career victory when Stanford beat Oregon State 65-56.
At the age of 70, and a head coach since age 24, VanDerveer celebrated on her team’s home floor at Maples Pavilion with former players on hand to cheer the Hall of Fame coach for yet another milestone in a decorated 45-year career filled with memorable accomplishments.
Fans chanted “Tara! Tara!” in the closing seconds before the celebration began.
“This is a tremendous accomplishment for Tara VanDerveer, who is already one of the most accomplished coaches in the history of basketball,” Krzyzewski said in a statement. “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.”
It was tense at times, with VanDerveer standing with arms crossed and pacing the sideline as Kiki Iriafen and her supporting cast made the big plays when it mattered most.
VanDerveer improved to 1,203-267 overall and 1,051-216 over 38 seasons at Stanford. A 17-time Pac-12 Coach of the Year with five national Coach of the Year honors, VanDerveer has captured three NCAA titles with Stanford – in 1990, 1992 and 2021 – and coached the 1996 US Olympic team to a gold medal at the Atlanta Games during a year away from Stanford.
Iriafen contributed a career-high 36 points on 16-for-26 shooting and 11 rebounds and Talana Lepolo 14 points and six assists for the Cardinal (17-2, 6-1 Pac-12). The game drew a near-capacity crowd of 7,022 at Maples Pavilion, which holds 7,233.
Stanford led 28-22 at the break having shot just 12 of 34 but were willed on in the second half as former star players such as Jennifer Azzi, Chiney Ogwumike, Ros Gold-Onwude and Jayne Appel-Marinelli were among those in attendance, along with former US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice supporting the beloved coach.
“I’ve always loved the fact that she tells them to fight, just keep fighting. But she also cares about the com