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Head coach Tara VanDerveer looks on before a game against the Oregon Ducks at Stanford Maples Pavilion on January 19 in Palo Alto, California.
CNN
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Stanford women's basketball coach Tara VanDerveer announced her retirement on Tuesday, ending a 45-year career as one of the winningest coaches in college basketball history.
Earlier this season, VanDerveer passed former Duke University men's basketball head coach and fellow Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Famer Mike Krzyzewski as the winningest coach in NCAA basketball history. She finished with her total of 1,216 wins.
VanDerveer, 70, led Stanford to three national championships in 38 seasons as a Cardinal and was named National Coach of the Year five times during his tenure.
“Basketball is the greatest group project in the world, and I am deeply grateful to everyone who has supported me and my team throughout my coaching career,” said VanDerveer of Stanford Athletics. said in an announcement shared by
“For nearly 40 years, I have been blessed to coach some of the brightest minds at some of the world's greatest institutions, including my time at Ohio State and Idaho, and as the head coach of the U.S. National Team. Together, it was an unforgettable experience,” she added.
But Vanderveer's winning record may not last long. UW women's coach Geno Auriemma, who also passed Krzyzewski this year, now has 1,213 wins as the Huskies' head coach, just three wins behind the outgoing Stanford coach.
“Mr. Vanderveer will continue to work with Stanford University and the athletics department in an advisory capacity,” Stanford University said in a statement.
Stanford added that it is in talks with longtime associate head coach Kate Pay to take over the reins of the Stanford women's team.