Tara VanDerveer
1995-96 USA Senior National Team Head Coach
1996 USA Olympic Team Head Coach
Tara VanDerveer, indisputably one of the United States’ finest coaching talents, was named 1995-96 USA Women’s Senior National Team head coach and 1996 USA Olympic Women’s Basketball Team head coach by USA Basketball on Thursday, April 13, 1995.
A veteran international coach, VanDerveer has served as head coach of six previous USA Basketball teams. The USA Basketball coaching stalwart most recently directed the 1994 USA Goodwill Games Team to a perfect 4-0 record and the gold medal in St. Petersburg, Russia. In 1994, VanDerveer also guided the USA World Championship Team to the bronze medal and a toumament-best record of 7-l in Sydney, Australia. One year earlier, VanDerveer helped the USA earn its FIBA World Championship berth by coaching the U.S. to a 6-1 record and the gold medal at the 1993 World Championship Qualifying Tournament, Sao Paulo, Brazil. In 1991, the VanDerveer-led USA World University Games Team recorded a perfect 8-0 record en route to the gold medal in Sheffield, England. Additionally, VanDerveer served as head coach of the 1990 USA Select Team that toured Yugoslavia and the Soviet Union as well as the 1986 U.S. Olympic Festival East Team. With VanDerveer as head coach, USA Basketball teams have notched a 28-8 record for a .778 winning percentage.
Undeniably one of the decade’s most successful collegiate basketball coaches — men’s or women’s — Van Derveer in her 10 years (1986-1995) at Stanford has built an NCAA women’s basketball dynasty. Under VanDerveer’s tutelage, Stanford has captured two national championships (1990, 1992), made four Final Four appearances (1990, 1991, 1992, 1995), eight NCAATournament appearances (1988-95) and earned Six Pacific-10(Pac-10) Conference titles (1989-93, 1995). The recently completed 1994-95 season was more of the same for VanDerveer as her Cardinal squad returned to the Final Four, claimed the Pac-10 crown, posted a 30-3 record and finished the season ranked third by USA Today and fourth by The Associated Press.
At Stanford, VanDerveer has compiled a sparkling 251-62 record for an impressive .802 winning percentage, including three 30-win or better seasons (1990, 1991, 1995). Three times each she was named National Coach of the Year (1988, 1989, 1992), Pac-10 Coach of the Year (1989, 1990, 1995) and District Coach of the Year (1988, 1989, 1990).
Prior to her arrival at Stanford, VanDerveer tallied a 110-37 record in five seasons (1981-1985) as head coach at Ohio State University, winning four Big Ten Conference crowns (1982-85) and earning two NCAA Tournament berths (1984, 1985). Making her collegiate coaching debut at the University of Idaho, VanDerveer posted a 42-14 record in two seasons (1979-80) as the Vandal’s head coach. All tallied, VanDerveer’s 17-year collegiate head coaching record is 403-113 for a stellar .781 winning percentage.
VanDerveer is a 1975 graduate of Indiana University, where she was a dean’s list scholar for three years. She also participated in varsity basketball at Indiana, starting at guard for three years.
VAN DERVEER & USA BASKETBALL
YEAR BY YEAR
| Year |
Team |
Record |
Medal |
| 1994 |
USA Goodwill Games Team |
4-0 |
Gold |
| 1994 |
USA World Championship Team |
7-1 |
Bronze |
| 1993 |
USA World Champ. Qualif. Team |
6-1 |
Gold |
| 1991 |
USA World Univ. Games Team |
8-0 |
Gold |
| 1990 |
USA Select Team |
2-3 |
N/A |
| 1986 |
USA Olympic Festival East Team |
1-3 |
Fourth Place |
TARA VAN DERVEER’S
NCAA HEAD COACHING SYNOPSIS
| Year |
School |
Record |
% |
Post-Season Notes |
| 1994-95 |
Stanford University |
30-3 |
.909 |
NCAA Final Four |
| 1993-94 |
Stanford University |
25-6 |
.806 |
NCAA Final Eight |
| 1992-93 |
Stanford University |
26-6 |
.813 |
NCAA Sweet 16 |
| 1991-92 |
Stanford University |
30-3 |
.909 |
NCAA Champions |
| 1990-91 |
Stanford University |
26-6 |
.813 |
NCAA Final Four |
| 1989-90 |
Stanford University |
32-1 |
.970 |
NCAA Champions |
| 1988-89 |
Stanford University |
28-3 |
.844 |
NCAA Final Eight |
| 1987-88 |
Stanford University |
27-5 |
.844 |
NCAA Sweet 16 |
1986-87 |
Stanford University |
14-14 |
.500 |
|
| 1985-86 |
Stanford University |
13-15 |
.464 |
|
| 1984-85 |
Ohio State University |
28-3 |
.903 |
NCAA Final Eight |
| 1983-84 |
Ohio State University |
22-7 |
.753 |
NCAA Tournament |
| 1982-83 |
Ohio State University |
23-5 |
.821 |
|
| 1981-82 |
Ohio State University |
20-7 |
.741 |
|
| 1980-81 |
Ohio State University |
17-15 |
.831 |
|
| 1979-80 |
University of Idaho |
25-6 |
.806 |
AIAW Tournament |
| 1978-79 |
University of Idaho |
17-8 |
.680 |
|
Totals: |
17 Years |
403-113 |
.781 |
|
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