Former players react to retirement of Stanford basketball coach Tara VanDerveer [Video]

As Tara VanDerveer retires from Stanford women’s basketball, she leaves behind not just a string of records and championships, but also a group of players that love her like family.

“When I played in the Olympics in 1996, the team used to call her ‘my mama.’ Like ‘what’s up with your mama today?'” says Katy Steding, a former player and current coach at Stanford.

For Steding, VanDerveer was “mama” but also “mentor.” Steding was her first recruit to Stanford, joined her for the Olympics, and eventually followed her into coaching.

She says VanDerveer’s impact is significant.

“I don’t think it’s measurable. Because I think along the way I think she’s done everything to fight for women and for women’s basketball,” says Steding.

VanDerveer herself says coaching has always been about transformation on and off the court.

“As their coach, I have aspired to get to a place they could not get on their own,” says VanDerveer.

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