STANFORD, Calif. – Tara VanDerveer has been named a recipient of the 2026 Naismith Outstanding Contributor to Basketball Award, honoring her extraordinary and lasting impact on the game, the Atlanta Tipoff Club (ATOC) announced Tuesday.
VanDerveer was selected for the honor by the ATOC’s Board of Directors along with men’s head coach Tubby Smith. Both will be formally recognized at the 2026 NCAA Final Four.
"The Naismith Award annually recognizes those who have left a meaningful legacy on both athletes and supporters, genuinely representing what basketball stands for," said Eric Oberman, president of the Atlanta Tipoff Club. "We're honored to celebrate Tara and Tubby, who devoted themselves to building and elevating the sport. Earning a Werner Ladder Naismith Coach of the Year award is outstanding, but receiving acknowledgment years later for your enduring legacy is truly remarkable."
Established in 1982, the Naismith Outstanding Contributor to Basketball Award annually celebrates individuals whose extraordinary dedication has created meaningful and enduring benefits for the sport. Award recipients demonstrate strong moral character, unwavering principles, and distinguished conduct while driving significant advancement in basketball's development and long-term success.
"It is an honor to receive the Naismith Outstanding Contributor to Basketball Award alongside Coach Smith, and I’d like to thank The Atlanta Tipoff Club for this recognition,” VanDerveer said. “On court success comes from having great players, fantastic assistant coaches, and supportive administrations all working together to achieve a common goal. But the most meaningful part of my career has been the relationships formed that go well beyond basketball. I’ve always strived to grow the game and leave a legacy that is more than just a coaching record. To be recognized for exactly that sort of impact with this award is very special."
About Tara VanDerveer:
- As the head coach at Stanford, Ohio State, and Idaho, she led her teams to a 1,216-271 record in 45 seasons, including a 1,064-220 mark in 38 seasons with the Cardinal.
- A three-time Werner Ladder Naismith Women’s Coach of the Year (1990, 2011, and 2021), she was named the Pac-12 Coach of the Year 18 times.
- Led Stanford to three NCAA Championships (1990, 1992, 2021) and is one of only five coaches in history to win three titles.
- Made 35 NCAA Tournament appearances at Stanford, advanced to the Final Four 14 times, and played in the national championship game five times.
- Her teams won 26 Pac-12 regular-season titles and captured 15 Pac-12 Tournament championships.
- VanDerveer won her 1,000th career game on Feb. 3, 2017, passed Pat Summitt (1,098) to become the then-winningest coach in women's college basketball history on Dec. 15, 2020, and surpassed Mike Krzyzewski (1,202) to become the then-winningest coach in NCAA basketball history on Jan. 21, 2024.
- She coached two Jersey Mike’s Naismith Women’s College Basketball Players of the Year: Jennifer Azzi (1990) and Kate Starbird (1997).
- She is a member of both the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame (inducted in 2011) and the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame (inducted in 2002).
- In 1995-96, she served as head coach of the USA Basketball National Team, leading the team to a 52-0 exhibition record and then to the Olympic gold medal with a perfect 8-0 run at the 1996 Atlanta Games.