
28 segments available
In this View From The Top interview, Shannon Beckham, MBA ’24, speaks with Tara VanDerveer, the winningest coach in U.S. college basketball history and former coach of Stanford Women’s Basketball. Tara shares her experience winning the record-breaking game in January 2024, before diving into her 40-year long career. She reveals her coaching philosophy on recruiting, motivating players, and building culture on teams — all lessons that can be applied to any organization. She also addresses her views on challenging current issues, from NIL to gender equity in sports. Don’t miss this chance to hear her favorite “Tara-isms,” lessons she has learned from her players, and how she hopes to redefine the future in this next chapter of her life.
Tara VanDerveer reflects on her record-breaking achievement of 1,216 wins in college basketball, sharing her emotions during the celebration after the historic game against Oregon State. She discusses the unexpected party planned for her and the overwhelming joy of the moment, highlighting the significance of her journey in the sport.
"[Music] [Applause] he bir hey bir good job on good job good job Brian hello it is so great to have you here thank you Shannon it's great to be here we are closing out this year's view from the top ser..."
Tara describes the unique jacket made by Nike to commemorate her record-breaking win. She shares a memorable encounter with NFL player Christian McCaffrey, which went viral, and expresses her feelings of being special to Stanford and the community, especially after the court was renamed in her honor.
"know I started when I was about 10 years old so you know it's been a a nice run I've enjoyed it well we're going to get to that entire Journey but take us back to the moment in January when you won th..."
Tara recounts her early love for basketball, starting from a young age and the challenges she faced as a girl wanting to play. She reflects on the lack of opportunities for girls in sports before Title IX and how her passion for the game grew despite these obstacles.
"yeah and you got this jacket I see what you're rocking uh tell us about this what's the jacket well this is a Nike made this jacket it's a one of one of a kind I don't think anyone else has one and uh..."
Tara discusses the significance of Title IX and how it changed the landscape for women in sports. She shares her journey from aspiring lawyer to basketball coach, emphasizing the importance of equal opportunities and her father's encouragement to coach her sister's team.
"start at the beginning do you remember the first time you held a basketball Shannon can I go back one second I want to congratulate are any guys here from the GSB intermural team they won the champion..."
Tara reflects on her early coaching experiences and the valuable lessons she learned about teamwork and understanding players' backgrounds. She emphasizes the importance of empathy and recognizing that every player is someone's sister, which shapes her coaching philosophy.
"the car under the hoop so then I'd go to another place and it was just I I loved it I just I love basketball from a very young age and so what you're saying too is that this was before Title 9 when wo..."
Tara shares her perspective on being a coach, highlighting her role as a teacher and mentor. She discusses the importance of building relationships with players and how her experiences as a player inform her coaching style, aiming to help players reach their full potential.
"because all the boy all the books I read were about boys wow that would be incredible uh so you have this passion but you end up going off to college and decide you're going to become a lawyer right u..."
Tara explains how she motivates her players at Stanford, focusing on recruiting talented individuals who are already highly motivated. She discusses the importance of creating an environment that maximizes their strengths and fosters a supportive atmosphere.
"so I said okay and I learned two really important lessons coaching my sister's team I came home from the game and the first thing my dad says well how come you didn't play Marie more I'm like Dad Mari..."
Tara reflects on her coaching style, often referred to as the 'velvet hammer.' She discusses the balance between being direct and maintaining strong relationships with players, emphasizing the importance of honesty and clarity in communication.
"watched a lot of coaches and I've also been coached in situations uh not so much in basketball although I did have I did have an excellent college coach um and her name was B Gorton she's passed away ..."
Tara shares a personal story about losing her cool during a game and the realization that this was not the type of coach she wanted to be. She emphasizes the importance of leading with integrity and finding effective ways to motivate players without resorting to yelling.
"first of all I recruit great players recruit great talent and so then and then that's putting them in a situation where we maximize their strengths and minimize their weaknesses and I think that um as..."
Tara shares a pivotal moment when she lost her cool during a game, realizing that this was not the leadership style she aspired to embody. She emphasizes the importance of being a coach that players would want to play for, highlighting the significance of positive motivation in both sports and business leadership.
"maybe with Kate I knew Kate when she was 11 years old so she she got the hammer she didn't get the Velvet one um but it was uh I I think that that's pretty much you know I think that's a great complim..."
In this segment, Tara reflects on the impact of supportive leadership on team performance. She discusses how divisive or unsupportive administrators can lead to a negative environment, affecting both morale and success. Tara encourages future leaders to strive for better support systems to foster high performance and happiness in the workplace.
"top and it was um and I realized that that wasn't who I wanted to be and I think more than anything I want to be a coach that my sister would want to play for or that I want to play for and I think it..."
Tara talks about her commitment to personal and team growth, sharing her experience of bringing in an executive coach to enhance leadership skills. She emphasizes the importance of connectivity and team values, illustrating how these elements contribute to a successful and enjoyable team culture.
"much so the high performance you know was low when I didn't feel supported and that was something that I really uh felt that you know instead of people feeling not seen irrelevant a cog in the wheel w..."
Tara elaborates on the tactics used to build a strong team culture, including the significance of being a great teammate. She uses the analogy of an orchestra to describe how team members should support each other, celebrating both individual and collective successes while fostering a fun and engaging environment.
"on so if you were a musician you would go to Mozart if you're an artist you go to Michelangelo well if you want leadership you go to Kristen moss and that's who I got so I just went I skipped right to..."
In this light-hearted segment, Tara shares her iconic motivational phrases, known as 'Tara-isms.' She explains how these spontaneous sayings emerge during practice and serve to inspire and connect with her players, adding a unique flavor to her coaching style.
"Andrew sitting right here Andrew Luck he knows a little bit about winning and football uh but there's nothing more rewarding than a great team am I right Andrew you know when you have a great team and..."
Tara recounts her experience leading the U.S. Women's Basketball team during the 1996 Olympics, highlighting the immense pressure of aiming for gold. She shares a personal story about overcoming negativity and maintaining focus, illustrating her mental strategies for success in high-stakes situations.
"ever and uh Christian was awesome so she was a great recruit well she recruited all of us to be here so we're very grateful to Kristen well I know you're great recruits too uh so that pact that you ju..."
Tara shares a humorous and insightful story from her time as the Olympic coach, including her interactions with President Bill Clinton. She reflects on the challenges and expectations of leading a team to victory, emphasizing the importance of teamwork and resilience in achieving their goals.
"encouraging them and we worked with you know we worked with a former uh freshman Dean at Stanford Julie Lott hes who is awesome we work with a Happ happiness professor at Stanford Fred luskin so kind ..."
Tara shares an unexpected and delightful experience with Supreme Court Justices, including Ruth Bader Ginsburg, who invited her team to play basketball at the Supreme Court. This segment highlights the fun and camaraderie of the moment, showcasing the intersection of sports and high-profile politics, while also celebrating women's achievements in athletics.
"fun the afternoon we went to meet with our two female Supreme Court Justices and one of them is from Stanford Sandra Dale Connor she was sitting right next to me and there there was isn't a smaller ro..."
Reflecting on her team's journey, Tara discusses the excitement of winning the gold medal at the Olympics. She humorously recounts a post-victory encounter at a grocery store, illustrating the public's recognition of her achievement. This segment emphasizes the significance of the gold medal and the pride that comes with such a monumental victory.
"exciting and really fun but I'm thinking gold that's pretty darn good 60 I get home I look at the refrigerator of course nothing's there I go down to the Safeway and I'm putting oranges in a bag and t..."
Tara addresses the recent changes in college athletics regarding Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) policies. She expresses her support for NIL, emphasizing the importance of athletes owning their brand while also highlighting the challenges it presents, particularly regarding equity in compensation. This segment provides insight into the evolving landscape of college sports and the implications for female athletes.
"I've also heard that before unfortunately um but what an incredible story and you did you brought home the gold did um another pressure I imagine you're facing right now that a lot of coaches and athl..."
In a discussion about Stanford's future in athletics, Tara emphasizes the need for the university to remain competitive across all sports. She reflects on her own journey to Stanford and the challenges she faced, advocating for a balance of academic and athletic excellence. This segment underscores the importance of leadership and vision in maintaining Stanford's prestigious reputation.
"better things to talk about well I'll follow up with just one quick question then because you do have the future president of Stanford sitting here in the front row uh and you have a unique position o..."
Tara discusses the pressing issue of gender equity in sports, highlighting the disparity in salaries between female and male athletes. She uses Caitlyn Clark's achievements as a case study, advocating for equitable treatment and support for women's sports. This segment emphasizes the need for systemic change and the role of promotion in advancing women's athletics.
"[Music] no pressure John another topic that's been in the news a lot this year is gender equity which you just touched on 24 million fans viewed the Women's Championship Game woo that a great awesome ..."
Tara reflects on the invaluable lessons she has learned from her players throughout her coaching career. She shares inspiring stories of resilience and positivity, illustrating how her players have shaped her philosophy. This segment highlights the deep connections between coaches and athletes and the transformative power of teamwork.
"men's basketball too well thank you for Paving the path for so many women not just in sports but in organizations around the country thank you Shannon um your players are sitting here in the front row..."
Tara VanDerveer shares a touching story about Angela Taylor, a player who never got in the game but contributed to the team's spirit by 'spreading sunshine.' This segment highlights the importance of every team member's role, regardless of playing time, and how a positive attitude can lead to success, as evidenced by their national championship win.
"that she just wasn't good enough we had two All-American guards on our team at the time Jennifer ay and Sonia Henning but she was on our 1989 1990 team and I asked everyone on the team to write on a l..."
Tara recounts a powerful moment of leadership from Jam Weidman, who inspired her devastated teammates after a heartbreaking loss. Jam's words, 'I would rather lose with you than win with anyone else,' exemplify the essence of true leadership and camaraderie, showcasing how a strong leader can uplift a team in tough times.
"championship so again spread sunshine and that's that was Angela's message um we had a young lady on our team Jam Weidman and jam is a fabulous young lady an incredible speaker she is a lawyer in New ..."
In this segment, Tara reflects on a moment during a trip to Ukraine where her player Jennifer demonstrated compassion by giving money and supplies to those in need. This story emphasizes the importance of empathy and leadership beyond the court, showcasing how athletes can make a difference in the world.
"it was just awesome and then one time uh Kati was on this trip we were in Ukraine we were in ke and we had to load the bus at 3:30 in the morning it's free freeing we're in January and we're going out..."
Tara shares the inspiring story of Chris McMurdo, a standout recruit who expressed her desire to make a difference in the world upon arriving at Stanford. This segment highlights Chris's journey from a promising athlete to a doctor, illustrating the impact of education and ambition on personal growth and societal contribution.
"Merit Scholarship winner she was president of her class uh president of the N uh the Honor Society uh everything undefeated basketball team captain of her team and from South Carolina she wants to com..."
As Tara reflects on her retirement after 40 years of coaching, she discusses her plans to 'rewire' rather than retire. This segment reveals her excitement for new opportunities, including writing, podcasting, and possibly a movie about the Olympic team, showcasing her commitment to continue influencing the world of sports.
"I was like whoa I'm like that that was so inspiring and I I was thinking you know her junior year she was and she was in Premed uh she's a doctor now in uh paliative care uh she's I'm sure she's a fab..."
Tara challenges the audience to embrace the qualities of a great teammate, emphasizing dependability, encouragement, and forgiveness. This segment encapsulates her philosophy on teamwork and leadership, urging everyone to strive for personal growth and to inspire others to be better teammates.
"time for those but we would love to hear them um which brings me to what's next for you you just retired after 40 Years of coaching why did you decide to retire now and what are you going to do next I..."