Stanford to rename basketball court after Tara VanDerveer, winningest coach in NCAA history

Stanford will officially rename its basketball court at Maples Pavilion after former coach Tara VanDerveer, the program announced Thursday. The court will be known as “Tara VanDerveer Court.”

Additionally, one of the assistant coaching positions on the Stanford staff will now be designated as the “Tara VanDerveer Assistant Women’s Basketball Coach.” This year, that title will be bestowed on recently hired assistant coach Heather Oesterle.

“I have many wonderful memories of leading the women’s basketball program at Maples Pavilion,” VanDerveer said in a news release. “It’s an honor, and a little surreal, to know that my name will be linked to both in these ways, and I look forward to celebrating with all our fans this fall.”

VanDerveer retired after last season, her 38th at Stanford and 45th overall in women’s college basketball. She led the Cardinal to three NCAA championships and 14 Final Fours, and won 531 games on the court which will now bear her name. Her 1,216 total career victories are the most in NCAA history.

The university will celebrate the honor and unveil the court at a home game in November.

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(Photo: Kirby Lee / USA Today)