Photo credit: AP Photo/Bill Kostroun
Rutgers Women’s Basketball Head Coach, C. Vivian Stringer, just added her name to the history books by becoming the first African American college basketball coach to win 1,000 games. The historic accomplishment happened on Tuesday night when the Scarlet Knights defeated Central Connecticut State 73-44.
“Let me tell you something, sometimes people ask how did I accomplish these things?” Stringer said. “This was only done with my family first of all and they mean everything in the world. They lifted me up.”
The 70-year-old Hall of Fame coach is also now the fifth Division I women’s basketball coach and the sixth woman overall to achieve such a feat.
Photo credit: Associated Press
In her 48-year coaching career, Stringer has blazed quite a trail. From leading Cheyney University of Pennsylvania, the nation’s very first historically Black college, to the championship game of the first NCAA Division I women’s basketball tournament in 1982. To leading the Iowa Hawkeyes to eight NCAA tournament appearances and one trip to the Final Four. To leading Rutgers to 14 NCAA tournament appearances and two trips to the Final Four. To now scoring 1,000 career wins.
“It reminded me of something my father used to say,” Stringer said of the video tributes celebrating her milestone. “‘Don’t give me flowers when I’m gone. Show me that you appreciate me while I’m still here.’ That’s how I felt watching that.”
Congratulations, Coach Stringer!