Steinmetz: VanDerveer's Hall call a ‘no-doubter'

Aug. 12, 2011

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Matt Steinmetz
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SPRINGFIELD, Mass. -- In an induction class that included Dennis Rodman, Chris Mullin, Arvydas Sabonis, Artis Gilmore, among others, it might be easy to overlook Stanford women's coach Tara VanDerveer.That, of course, would be a mistake.Nobody deserved to be on the stage on Friday night at Symphony Hall for the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame enshrinement more than VanDerveer, who has spent her entire life devoted to the game of basketball, and teaching it to as many girls and women as possible.It was a special homecoming for VanDerveer, whose family roots are in Springfield. VanDerveer's grandfather was the director of recreation in Springfield, and her parents met at Springfield College. That's important because the theme of VanDerveer's speech centered on Malcolm Gladwell's book "Outliers," which "contends success comes from parentage, patronage, opportunity, 10,000 hours of practice and legacy."VanDerveer talked of growing up and playing basketball with boys in her neighborhood, and how she demanded that the boys allow her to play. This despite the fact that there were no girls programs at the time, and there were no organized teams for VanDerveer to play on.So it's remarkable that VanDerveer would wind up leading the Cardinal to two NCAA championships, win an Olympic gold medal in 1996 and coach the Women's national team to 60 straight wins. There are the 800 victories, too. And, oh, by the way, VanDerveer is still coaching and doing it at an elite level.Her late father, VanDerveer said, would have been amazed at Friday night -- with VanDerveer amid icons of the game and being one herself."He once told me 'Tara, come in and do your homework,'" VanDerVeer said. "Do your algebra. Basketball will never take you anywhere. I knew algebra would never take me anywhere."Basketball surely did. What came into focus on Friday night was VanDerveer's basketball pedigree. She learned from legendary Cal coach Pete Newell and used to watch Bobby Knight's practices at Indiana. Now she's the elite kind of coach that other coaches come to study.VanDerveer made some self-effacing comments this week and in her speech about being in such heady company. Her father would have never believed it. But there is no doubt VanDerveer belongs.