Tara VanDerveer Gives Back After Making History

STOCKTON, CA — Tara VanDerveer didn’t take much time to savor her historic moment.

Quickly after becoming the winningest women’s basketball coach in NCAA history, the Stanford coaching legend gave back.

VanDerveer committed to donating $10 for each of her career 1,099 wins to help those in need amid the pandemic after her No. 1 Stanford team’s decisive 104-61 victory over Pacific on Tuesday pushed her past the late Pat Summitt on the all-time list, Associated Press sportswriter Janie McCauley reported on Twitter.

VanDerveer said her $10,990 contribution will go to local food backs.

“We're playing games & we know people are really suffering, they don't have jobs, their unemployment is running out, they're hungry so I'm so thankful for my job & my opportunity I just want to make sure I'm giving back," VanDerveer said.

Since arriving at Stanford in 1985, the four-time national coach of the year and (1988, 1989, 1990, 2011) and 15-time Pac-12 Coach of the Year has led the Cardinal to two national championships (1990, 1992), 12 NCAA Final Four appearances and 22 Pac-12 regular-season titles.

VanDerveer was recognized as one of the top coaches in the history of collegiate and international women’s basketball long before setting the collegiate coaching record. She was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2011 and the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame in 2002.

She coached the 1996 USA Basketball National Team an Olympic gold medal in Atlanta.

VanDerveer also got a shoutout from another Bay Area sports legend.

Steph Curry congratulated her on a “major, major accomplishment” in a video he posted on Twitter.

“Coach VanDerveer, just want to say congratulations on breaking the all-time wins record in women’s basketball as a head coach,” the two-time MVP said in the video.

“It’s a true testament to who you are and what you’ve been able to do and build over the course of your career and building up Stanford to the prestigious program that it is.

"I know you have a lot more wins in the tank so I’m sure there’s more to come, but I just wanted to say congratulations on this major, major accomplishment and congratulations to all your players and coaches that have been along the journey with you. All the best.”