It is truly the end of a golden era. With many immaculate seniors moving to the WNBA for new journeys, the coaches also seem ready for fresh starts. After  John Calipari left the Wildcats for a new home in Arkansas, Tara VanDerveer is onto her retirement plan. She has finally stepped down from the Cardinals’ throne after 38 seasons of undying loyalty to Stanford.

As Cardinal head coach, VanDerveer accumulated several titles, including the most-winning coach with 1000+ wins. More so, she has given us many dazzling names; Chiney Ogwumike and Cameron Brink spring to mind. Not to mention, this year’s NCAA champion coach, Dawn Staley, was under VanDerveer during the 1996 Atlanta Olympics.

As a coach, the 5x National Coach of the Year also has the honors of 11× Pac-10/12 Coach of the Year, 5× WBCA District/Region Coach of the Year, John R. Wooden Legends of Coaching Award, 5× Northern California Women’s Intercollegiate Coach of the Year, and 2× Big Ten Coach of the Year. She also has 3 gold medals while faring in international waters from the Atlanta Olympics, Goodwill Games, and World University Games. Further, she also won a Bronze for the 1994 Sydney FIBA World Championship for Women.

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While these were her individual collectibles, here is what she brought to Stanford University.

Tara VanDerveer and her treasure chest for the Cardinals

She was not just hired as a head coach for the Cardinals but as an architect. According to Tara Vanderveer, many in her circle were against her taking the opportunity back in 1985. In fact, her father had told her, “You’ll be unemployed and coming home to live with us in three months.” However, the coach, who was transferring from Ohio State, a school with whom she grew popular, did not budge.

Within three years, she had recruited players who she had evolved into winners. In just 5 years, Stanford brought home the National Championship. The rest is history as Stanford stands tall with other schools, being titled as one of the powerhouses in WBB programs.

As their head coach, the 70-year-old basketball legend has brought 3 National Championship titles. She has also led the team to 13 NCAA Regional—Final Four, 27 Pac-12 Conference regular season, 15 Pac-12 Conference tournament championships, and 4 Big Ten Regular Season. Eight of these awards were in this decade itself.

Giving 38 years of her entire 45 years of coaching career to just one program screams loyalty. What it also echoes is VanDerveer’s name. A coach who is not simply transforming one school but is bringing about changes in the entire league; an idea that presents itself rarely. With Tara VanDerveer finally stepping down, it would be interesting if her successor could keep the promise and maintain the legacy she has brought to life.

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