Stanford coach Tara VanDerveer has made history by surpassing legendary Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski to become the winningest coach in men's and women's NCAA basketball history. VanDerveer achieved this remarkable milestone with her 1,203rd victory in a hard-fought 65-56 win over Oregon State on Sunday evening.

VanDerveer's record-breaking achievement was made possible by an outstanding performance from Kiki Iriafen, who delivered an impressive display with 36 points and 11 rebounds during the game. It was a crucial victory for No. 8 Stanford as they overcame a tough challenge from an ascendant Oregon State squad after a tense first half. The team's explosive 20-10 run in the third quarter ultimately secured the historic win for VanDerveer.

The journey to this momentous milestone began when VanDerveer, a former point guard-turned-center, started her basketball career at Albany, playing just 150 miles away from her hometown of Melrose, Massachusetts. After two seasons, she ventured across the country to play for Bea Gorton at Indiana, who drew inspiration for her program from the renowned men's basketball coach, Bobby Knight.

As her playing days concluded, VanDerveer channeled her passion and knowledge for the game into coaching. She gained early experience coaching her sister's high school team and later contended with Ohio State before landing her first head coaching position at Idaho in 1978.

Two years later, VanDerveer returned to Ohio State as a head coach and, in 1985, her illustrious career led her to Palo Alto, where she took over as the head coach of Stanford. Under her leadership, the Cardinal clinched three NCAA national championships, the most recent one in 2021. VanDerveer's coaching prowess is further highlighted by five Coach of the Year awards and an impressive 14 Final Four appearances.

In addition to her collegiate achievements, VanDerveer also had the privilege of coaching the United States national women's basketball team. She led the team to a gold medal in the 1996 Atlanta Olympics and a bronze medal in the 1994 Sydney FIBA women's championships, cementing her expertise and reputation on the international stage.

Tara VanDerveer's extraordinary coaching legacy is now etched in the annals of NCAA basketball history. Her unparalleled success, dedication, and impact on the sport serve as an inspiration for future generations of coaches and athletes alike.