Stanford to name court after retired coach Tara VanDerveer

The court at Stanford's Maples Pavilion will be named the Tara VanDerveer Court, honoring the recently retired women's basketball coach, the school announced Thursday.

VanDerveer coached 38 seasons at Stanford, winning three national championships and going to 14 Final Fours. Overall, she was a college head coach for 45 years, with stops at Idaho and Ohio State before taking over at Stanford in 1985. VanDerveer, who announced her retirement April 9, won an NCAA record 1,216 games.

One of the Stanford women's basketball assistant coaching positions also will be named after VanDerveer. It's recently been filled by Heather Oesterle, who was hired by new Stanford head coach Kate Paye, a longtime assistant to VanDerveer and former Cardinal player.

The endowment to fund and name the assistant coaching position came from a gift from longtime Stanford benefactors Tashia and John Morgridge.

"I have many wonderful memories of leading the women's basketball program at Maples Pavilion," VanDerveer said. "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."

A public celebration and official unveiling of the Tara VanDerveer Court will be held in November at a Stanford women's basketball game. The details will be announced closer to the start of the 2024-25 season, the school said.