Tara VanDerveer mentored a young Dawn Staley before she won titles or went unbeaten.The Stanford Hall of Fame coach did the same for her Pac-12 rivals.
For Cori Close. For Lindsay Gottlieb. As for Charmin Smith. For Charli Turner Thorne. After VanDerveer retires, Kate Paye will succeed him. Most people have a tale about VanDerveer doing something kind throughout her celebrated four-decade career. She enjoyed assisting the sport in any way she could. She leaves on a high note.
After 38 seasons coaching Stanford women's basketball and 45 years overall, the NCAA's winningest coach retired Tuesday night.
As planned for years, top Cardinal assistant Paye will lead the program, and Stanford stated discussions are beginning. Paye played for VanDerveer 1991–95 and coached for 17 years.
Southern California in 2013 competed in the same NCAA Tournament regional as Stanford under Gottlieb. VanDerveer congratulated Gottlieb and offered to help Cal's game strategy after Georgia eliminated his Cardinal.
VanDerveer gave a motivational talk in the Gamecocks' Maples Pavilion locker room after defeating Staley and South Carolina 70-32 on Nov. 26, 2010.
The Pac-12 collapsed, forcing Stanford to play in the Atlantic Coast Conference next season, which VanDerveer called “sad.” Stanford lost to N.C. State in a regional semifinal this year after losing to Mississippi in the second round at home.
Gottlieb said, “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, excellence, and growing our game, and I think our prevailing feeling should be gratitude for everything she’s done for all of us.”
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