Stanford's VanDerveer named Naismith Coach of the Year for 3rd time

SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS - MARCH 30: Head coach Tara VanDerveer of the Stanford Cardinal cuts the net following their win over the Louisville Cardinals in the Elite Eight round of the NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament at the Alamodome on March 30, 2021 in San Antonio, Texas.

Carmen Mandato / Getty Images Sport / Getty

Stanford's Tara VanDerveer has been named the Naismith Women's College Coach of the Year.

Traversing unparalleled adversity, while achieving unparalleled success.

Tara VanDerveer named the @NaismithTrophy Coach of the Year!#GoStanford pic.twitter.com/9DWptTyprX
— Stanford Women’s Basketball (@StanfordWBB) April 2, 2021

VanDerveer previously captured the honor in 1990 and 2011.

The 67-year-old guided the Cardinal to a 29-2 record this season and is two wins from delivering the school its third national championship of her 35-year tenure.

"It is a tremendous honor to be named the Werner Ladder Naismith Coach of the Year," said VanDerveer said in a statement. "I'm very grateful and humbled. I want to thank Stanford University, my athletic director, my assistant coaches, and especially my players.

"Our team has had a great season, and this award is a reflection of those players, how hard they've worked, and how hard they've played."

VanDerveer surpassed the legendary Pat Summitt as the all-time winningest coach in NCAA Division I women's basketball history earlier this season. The longtime Stanford bench boss holds a 1,123-255 career record.