Stanford's Tara VanDerveer has connections to Arizona during her legendary career

The GOAT is coming to Tucson. That is, the winningest coach in college basketball — men’s or women’s: Stanford’s Tara VanDerveer.

The Stanford women’s coach pushed past former Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski (1,202) last Sunday at home in Maples Pavilion in front of a packed crowd of fans, former players and other dignitaries.

On Friday night in Tempe, she added one more win, No. 1,204, as the No.. 6-ranked Cardinal defeated ASU 80-50.

Arizona (11-9, 3-5) will try to keep that wins number from growing as VanDerveer and Stanford (18-2, 7-1) play at McKale Center at noon Sunday.

The Arizona-Stanford — and really VanDerveer — connection is strong. The two programs have had epic battles on the court. Many games have stood out, even though Stanford is 67-8 against UA since the 1985-86 season when VanDerveer started at Stanford.

UA’s Reshea Bristol’s buzzer-beating 3-pointer (with an assist from Adia Barnes) to win 91-90, ending the Cardinal’s 48-game Pac-10 winning streak in 1998. Shawntinice Polk led the 2004 team (the only UA team to win a regular-season league title) to an 88-83 win with a double-double (21 points, 19 rebounds).

In Feb. 2020, Aari McDonald’s game-winning layup in traffic in overtime helped UA knock off No. 4 Stanford 73-72.

And, of course, no one can forget the 2021 national championship game when McDonald’s last-second shot in traffic bounced off the rim to give Stanford a 54-53 win and VanDerveer her third title.

Former UA coach Joan Bonvicini and VanDerveer first met on the court while competing in the postseason in the 1970s. Bonvicini, who was one of the top guards in the country and a finalist for the 1976 U.S. Olympic team, played for Southern Connecticut State and VanDerveer played at Indiana. Bonvicini won that time.

The two developed a friendship off the court after they started coaching against each other in the Pac-10 and with both being in the USA Basketball pool of coaches.

UA assistant Anthony Turner worked one of VanDerveer’s summer camps when he was starting his coaching career.

Barnes played against and is now coaching against VanDerveer. The two have grown close since Barnes took over the helm at Arizona.

Also, a little-known fact is that VanDerveer interviewed for the Arizona job — well before Bonvicini took over.

The Star asked Bonvicini, Turner and Barnes for their thoughts on VanDerveer’s record, lessons learned and why she’s so good.

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On more than 1,200 wins

Turner: “Absolute legend. Legend and legendary. I have the utmost respect for who she is as a coach, but also who she is as a person. I’m just blessed to have been around her a little bit.”

Bonvicini: “It’s a huge number. It’s a ridiculous number (Bonvicini has more than 700 wins). When she went to Indiana (as a college student), (coach) Bobby Knight was there, and she went to every single practice that he had and she took notes. She’s an extraordinarily driven person. …

“I heard someone say the other day on TV say, ‘Well, she started when she was so young.’ She did it but it’s because she’s good, it’s not just the time. It’s because she’s had great players. She’s been consistent. She’s just a great coach and as good a coach as she is, she’s a better person. But she’s no joke, (as a Stanford player) you better work. You better work and you better work hard.”

Barnes: “I can’t imagine more than 1,200 wins. That’s an amazing accomplishment — so many wins over so many years. Just being at the top and sustaining that is almost impossible to do. I think it’s incredible.”

On life lessons

Turner: “The thing that stuck out to me more than anything else was the just dogged consistency that they have; They are so incredibly consistent and committed to that consistency. If you ask me, something that I take away, that was a lasting impression, and something that I’ve tried to put in into my professional life is just show up and be consistent every day. …

“Coach VanDerveer took it to another level with all the coaches and counselors that were working her camp. She watched us run drills, teach clinics and she gave us feedback on things that we did well, things that we need to do better. She wasn’t just teaching the little kids at the camps, she was teaching the future coaches of America, too. As a matter of fact, I still have that (feedback) form. That made a big impact on me and helps me get better. She also shared so much information with and this is just who she is — always wanting to grow the game is one of her big things. I also have a Tara VanDerveer offensive manual of things that they did at Stanford, camp drills, offenses they run and how they do their breakdowns.”

Barnes: “I’ve learned a lot from her. When there’s been difficult situations, I’ve been able to call her. I’ve watched the way she talks in our Pac-12 meetings and what she says. I respect that it was never from a selfish standpoint; it was always about growing women’s basketball. She is always a team player and wanted to grow the Pac-12; would take a sacrifice and do something she didn’t have to do to make our league and game better.”

On what makes VanDerveer great

Bonvicini: “The preparation is the thing that separates her as a coach. She prepares for everything — incredibly prepared. (Former Stanford standout) Jennifer Azzi said the players at Stanford knew the (opponents’) plays sometimes better than the other team knew their own plays. They could tell when they were running them incorrectly. I think the thing that sets her apart and why she’s won so much, is her ability to adjust and make changes during the game. A lot of coaches are prepared, but the games don’t always go the way you think they’re going to go. You have to change and those changes are why she’s so good.”

Barnes: “She’s a great basketball mind. She really knows the game. She studies the game. She has changed how she coaches throughout the years; she’s grown with the game. I think a lot of coaches aren’t able to do that and that’s why they don’t sustain so much success. She’s a pioneer for our game. What I love is that she’s an advocate for women’s basketball. It’s not all about Stanford. It’s not ever about her success. It’s about growing the game, whatever that means, whatever that looks like. I respect her tremendously for that.”