C. Vivian Stringer, head coach of Rutgers University, earned her 1,000th career victory Tuesday, Nov. 13, as the Scarlet Knights defeated Central Connecticut State, 73-44. She is the sixth college women’s basketball coach to reach the milestone of 1,000 victories.
“It is tremendous to think about all the time, talent, and service combined to reach 1,000 wins,” said WBCA Executive Director Danielle Donehew. “Congratulations to Coach C. Vivian Stringer, her staff, team and family for surpassing this historic milestone. The WBCA salutes our founding member and applauds her many contributions to our game.”
Stringer began her coaching career at Cheyney State University and also coached at the University of Iowa before becoming the head coach at Rutgers in 1995. She became the first coach in men’s or women’s basketball to take three teams to an NCAA Final Four.
At Rutgers, she has led the team to 15 NCAA Tournaments and in 2014 to the WNIT Championship. Stringer was the seventh coach, in men’s or women’s basketball, to reach 900 wins.
In 2001, she was inducted into the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame and received induction into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2009.
During her career, Stringer twice has been named the WBCA National Coach of the Year. She was also an assistant coach for the gold medal-winning 2004 U.S. Olympic team. In the same year, Sports Illustrated recognized her as one of the “101 Most Influential Minorities in Sports.”
Congratulations to Stringer, a founding member of the WBCA, on her historic win!