Stanford Cardinal head coach Tara VanDerveer seen here celebrating with her players her 1202 career victory becoming the winningest head coach in NCAA history on Fri Jan 19, 2024 at Maple Pavilion in Palo Alto. VanDerveer met with the media on Wed Apr10, 2024 at Maples Pavilion to announce her retirement. (AP News file photo)

On the Stanford Cardinal podcast with Michael R:

#1 Michael, One of the things that Stanford Cardinal head coach Tara VanDerveer pointed out at her last press last Wednesday was she was not retiring because the ACC. Matter of face VanDerveer said that was a motivating factor for her to stay if anything.

#2 The Cardinal are going through big changes from the end of the Pac 12, to the portal transfers, and losing graduating stars Cameron Brink and Hannah Jump and of course dealing with NIL that has taken over the sport.

#3 VanDerveer mentioned that the changes that have arrived has been exhausting for her and it’s become more of a 24 hour job rather than before you would show up in the morning practice and on game days practice and get ready for the game. Now it’s that and constantly off floor basketball decisions but still that wasn’t the reason why she was retiring.

#4 VanDerveer revealed that her real reason for retirement was her mom at 96 years old is someone that she wanted to spend time with, being with her dogs and going water skiing. After awhile VanDerveer realizes as she says “this is not a dress rehearsal, this is your real life” VanDerveer is now 70 years old.

Michael Roberson is a Stanford Cardinal beat writer for http://www.sportsradioservice.com