November 11th 2024.
On a crisp autumn afternoon in Palo Alto, the Stanford community gathered at Maples Pavilion to honor one of their own. Tara VanDerveer, the iconic head coach of the women's basketball team, was about to have the court dedicated in her name. But as she stood on the hardwood, she couldn't help but feel that this moment was not just about her.
VanDerveer waved over her protégé, Kate Paye, who had taken over as the new head coach of the team. Paye wanted VanDerveer to have the spotlight to herself, but VanDerveer knew that this was a moment to be shared with everyone who had been a part of her journey. "It's never about one person," she humbly stated.
But on this special day, it was about one person and one person alone. Before Paye's team took the court for their game against Gonzaga, VanDerveer watched as the court was officially named Tara VanDerveer Court, in recognition of her incredible achievement of becoming the coach with the most wins in college basketball history. As she accepted this honor, VanDerveer sported a white Nike jacket adorned with red tally marks, representing the 1,216 wins she had accumulated throughout her career.
"It's an incredible honor," VanDerveer said, her voice filled with emotion. "I feel very honored, very humbled. To see so many people I coached, who I worked with is very special. It's really overwhelming, emotionally, to be honest with you. I'm keeping it together better than I thought."
Her protégé, Paye, was in awe of the ceremony and her mentor's accomplishments. "It's really hard to put into words everything that Tara has accomplished," Paye said. "I thought the ceremony was great. It was really well done. Just a tremendous moment. She sure looked cool in that jacket."
At the moment, VanDerveer's record of 1,216 wins may soon be surpassed by UConn's Geno Auriemma, who was just one win behind. But after 45 years of coaching, VanDerveer was content with her life in retirement. She finally had the time to do things she never could while building Stanford into a powerhouse. She was now able to read a book a week and had recently undergone hip surgery, but she had multiple trips planned and remained involved with the team, attending games, assisting with recruiting, and providing support for Paye.
"If Kate asks, I'll volunteer information," VanDerveer said. "I never call and say, 'You should be doing this' or 'You should be doing that.' She's doing a fabulous job. She knows that I'm 100 percent supportive of her and always there for her if she ever has any questions or wants to talk about anything."
Before the game began, the lights were dimmed, and a highlight reel of VanDerveer's time at Stanford played on the jumbotron. It included her three national championships and her 500th and 1000th victories. Then, a black tarp was dramatically pulled away, revealing the court's new logo, which featured VanDerveer's unique signature.
The game itself was a fitting tribute to VanDerveer. The Stanford team, led by sophomore Nunu Agara, easily defeated Gonzaga, the preseason favorite to win their conference, with a score of 89-58. The team started strong, going on a 10-0 run, and continued to dominate throughout the game. Nine players scored at least six points, showcasing the team's balanced and efficient play. And as VanDerveer watched, she couldn't help but notice the team's identity forming under Paye's leadership - one centered around fast-paced guard play and an impressive 57.7 percent shooting from beyond the arc.
"What I love about this team is just how unselfish they are, how they move the ball, how they're playing nine, 10 people," VanDerveer said. "They're all going in and they're all contributing and the ball is moving. There's no one taking too many shots or bad shots. They're all playing together."
As the game came to a close, Paye's team had added another win to their record, bringing her closer to her mentor's record. But Paye had no plans of matching VanDerveer's 40-year career. "I will not be coaching for 40 years," Paye laughed, knowing that VanDerveer's legacy would continue to inspire and shape the Stanford women's basketball team for years to come.
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