PALO ALTO — Tara VanDerveer didn’t need to rejoice alone.
As she stood on the hardwood at Maples Pavilion, a court docket that may without end be devoted in her title, VanDerveer waved over Kate Paye, her protégé. Paye wished VanDerveer to have the highlight to herself; VanDerveer believed the second was larger than simply her.
“It’s by no means about one particular person,” VanDerveer mentioned.
This afternoon in Palo Alto, although, was about one particular person and one particular person alone. Earlier than Paye loved her third win as Stanford’s new head coach, an 89-58 dismissal of Gonzaga, Stanford formally unveiled Tara VanDerveer Court docket in honor of the coach with probably the most wins in school basketball historical past.
“It’s an unbelievable honor,” VanDerveer mentioned, sporting a white Nike jacket that includes a whole lot of crimson tally marks representing the 1,216 wins she compiled at Idaho, Ohio State and Stanford. “I really feel very honored, very humbled. To see so many individuals I coached, who I labored with could be very particular. It’s actually overwhelming, emotionally, to be sincere with you. I’m preserving it collectively higher than I believed.”
“It’s actually arduous to place into phrases all the things that Tara has achieved,” Paye mentioned. “I believed the ceremony was nice. It was rather well finished. Only a great second. She certain regarded cool in that jacket.”
With UConn’s Geno Auriemma presently at 1,215 wins as of Saturday, VanDerveer’s maintain on the file for many wins in school basketball historical past probably gained’t final by means of November. However following 45 years of head teaching, VanDerveer has been content material to take pleasure in her life away from the day-to-day grind.
Retirement has offered VanDerveer with an abundance of free time — free time she didn’t have as she constructed Stanford right into a powerhouse. Since passing the baton to Paye, VanDerveer is studying a guide per week. VanDerveer not too long ago underwent hip surgical procedure that quickly slowed her down, however she has a number of journeys on her itinerary. Nonetheless, VanDerveer stays concerned with this system, coming to video games, aiding with recruiting and speaking with the workforce.
“If Kate asks, I’ll volunteer data,” VanDerveer mentioned. “I by no means name and say, ‘You ought to be doing this’ or ‘You ought to be doing that.’ She’s doing a wonderful job. She is aware of that I’m one hundred pc supportive of her and all the time there for her if she ever has any questions or needs to speak about something.”
Previous to tipoff, the lights within the fitness center had been dimmed and the jumbotron confirmed a spotlight reel of VanDerveer’s time at Stanford, a montage that included her three nationwide championships, in addition to the five hundredth and a thousandth victories. A black tarp was then ripped off to disclose the court docket’s new brand, one which integrated VanDerveer’s fashion of signing her first title.
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For all of the honors, the sport itself was the most effective tribute to VanDerveer. On a day when sophomore Nunu Agara stuffed the field rating, compiling 16 factors, 9 rebounds, three blocks, two steals and two assists, Stanford simply dealt with Gonzaga, the preseason favourite to win the West Coast Convention.
Stanford started the sport on a 10-0 run, forcing Gonzaga head coach Lisa Fortier to burn an early timeout. By the tip of the primary quarter, Stanford constructed a 22-point lead. By the break, the Cardinal had been doubling up the Bulldogs, 48-24. Halfway by means of the third, the lead grew as massive as 35 factors.
The hassle was as environment friendly because it was balanced because it was dominant. 9 gamers scored a minimum of six factors as Stanford shot 46.2 % from the sector and 54.2 % from 3. And thus far, Stanford’s id seems rooted in its exterior capturing.
Three video games in, Stanford is capturing 57.7 % from past the arc. With a capability to attain early and infrequently, the Cardinal have already amassed a degree differential of +124. That quantity gained’t maintain, but it surely speaks to how the Cardinal are forming an id beneath Paye, one centered round fast-paced guard play.
“What I really like about this workforce is simply how unselfish they’re, how they transfer the ball, how they’re enjoying 9, 10 folks,” VanDerveer mentioned. “They’re all getting in and so they’re all contributing and the ball is shifting. There’s nobody taking too many photographs or dangerous photographs. They’re all enjoying collectively.”
With Sunday’s victory, Paye wants only a mere 1,213 extra wins to catch her mentor. As of now, although, Paye has little interest in matching her mentor’s longevity.
“I cannot be teaching for 40 years,” Paye laughed.
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