Filed under: Stanford, Coaches, Women's Basketball
In the women's basketball cult of personality, Connecticut's Geno Auriemma is the yeller, stalking the sidelines. Tennessee's Pat Summitt comes with the icy glare of disapproval and expectation.
Stanford's Tara VanDerveer is the professor. Studious and detailed, reserved and competitive, VanDerveer has carved out one of the most impressive resumes in the game.
Two national titles, an Olympic gold medal, six Final Fours, 18 Pac-10 championships, three national coach of the year awards and a spot in the women's basketball Hall of Fame prompts Cal coach Joanne Boyle to ask, "Can I use the word 'Legend?'"
VanDerveer is one win away from 800 in her coaching career, a milestone she could reach Thursday night on the road against No. 24 DePaul.
"It means I'm old," the 57-year-old VanDerveer cracked.
She would become the fifth women's basketball coach in history to reach that milestone, joining Summitt, Texas' Jody Conradt, Rutgers' C. Vivian Stringer and North Carolina's Sylvia Hatchell. Barbara Stevens, who coaches at Division II Bentley, sits at 799 wins, her team taking the court again on Dec. 19. Still, it's an exclusive club.
Auriemma is more than a season away at 744 wins. VanDerveer has become Auriemma's chief foil of the last few years. Stanford was the last team to beat Connecticut in the 2008 national semifinals. The two teams met in last year's national championship game. And the Dec. 30 matchup between the two teams at Maples Pavilion is viewed by many as the game that could end Connecticut's record-breaking win streak. Stanford and Connecticut have each appeared in the last three Final Fours.
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Source: http://ncaabasketball.fanhouse.com/2010/12/13/tara-vanderveer-set-to-win-800th-game/
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