Andrew Luck on Tara VanDerveer: ‘She’s a titan’

"I think she’s had to fight uphill battles in many ways in women’s sports. I’m not sure she gets the credit she deserves for bringing women’s basketball to where it is today, which is unbelievable."

PALO ALTO — The famously low-profile Andrew Luck had no problem singing Tara VanDerveer’s praises on Friday night in Maples Pavilion. That’s how much respect the former Stanford star quarterback harbors for the legendary women’s basketball coach at his alma mater.

“I’m a huge fan,” Luck told this news organization at halftime of Stanford’s blowout win over Oregon.

Luck sat in the second row behind the baseline as VanDerveer pulled even with Mike Krzyzewski for most NCAA wins of all-time. VanDerveer can claim the all-time record of 1,203 wins with a Stanford victory on Sunday against Oregon State.

“I think she’s a treasure,” Luck said. “I wish everyone could see her work. It’s awesome. I’ve had the privilege to be at practice a couple times, I come to games. I think she’s given so much. I think she’s had to fight uphill battles in many ways in women’s sports. I’m not sure she gets the credit she deserves for bringing women’s basketball to where it is today, which is unbelievable.”

VanDerveer has been coaching at the collegiate level since 1978, when she was 24. As a high schooler in a pre-Title IX world, VanDerveer had to play with the boys; there was no women’s team. In the 46 years since, she has won three NCAA titles and earned five National Coach of the Year awards. More importantly to her, she has mentored hundreds of women, sprouting a coaching tree that spans beyond basketball.

VanDerveer has coached through eight presidential administrations, the advance of technology like cell phones and social media, conference realignments, the growth of women’s basketball as a global sport, the transfer portal and NIL.

She also, of course, overlapped with Luck in Palo Alto.

When Luck was a high school recruit, VanDerveer sat down for breakfast with his dad, former quarterback Oliver Luck. VanDerveer said she met Luck on his first day on campus.

Briefly in 2006, Stanford was between coaches after firing Walt Harris. Because of the void before Jim Harbaugh took over, VanDerveer actually recruited several of Luck’s teammates.

“Yeah, they didn’t have a football coach, so they had me meet the recruits,” VanDerveer said. “I’m like, ‘Hey come to Stanford. They went 1-11, but they can turn it around.’ And they did…I wouldn’t tell you I know much about football, but Andrew’s a great guy.”

Luck, and Harbaugh, led Stanford to consecutive double-digit win seasons. The quarterback finished second in Heisman voting twice and was eventually drafted first overall by the Colts. He retired at just 29, which should have been the prime of his career, partly because a rash of injuries took the joy out of the game for him.

Luck returned to Stanford in 2022 as a master’s student in the school of education. Although reclusive, he’s active in the community, serving as an assistant coach at Palo Alto High School and frequently popping up at Stanford sporting events. He said he’ll be back in Maples Pavilion on Sunday to witness VanDerveer potentially make history.

Just as any huge fan would.

“She cares about Stanford, she cares about sports, she does it the right way,” Luck said. “I’m sure if I played for her, I’d be terrified of her. But yeah, I’m just a fan. This record, she’s going to break this record, and it’s well-deserved. She’s a titan.”