Winningest Women's Coaches

Bob Knight retired from coaching with 902 wins -- the most by any men's Division I basketball coach in history. He'd need at least three -- possibly four -- more runs to the Final Four to catch Pat Summitt's win total -- and Summitt is still going strong. Here's a look at the biggest winners in women's college basketball history.

1. Pat Summitt - 1000 (active)

Getty Images / Al Messerschmidt

On February 5th, 2009, Pat Summitt became the first college basketball coach in Division I -- men's or women's -- to boast 1000 career victories. Her next target may be championships -- with eight, she's just two behind legendary UCLA coach John Wooden.

ESPN.com: Summitt Wins 1000

2. Jody Conradt - 900

Jody Conradt's career spanned 38 seasons -- 31 one of them as head coach at Texas. Her record in Austin was 783–245, and included an undefeated team that won the national championship in 1986. She retired in 2007.

3. C. Vivian Stringer - 815 (active)

To the casual fan, C. Vivian Stringer is probably best known as one of the protagonists in the controversy of Don Imus' unfortunate remarks and eventual firing. That's a shame, because she's one of the top coaches in the history of the women's game, racking up over 800 wins in stints at Cheyney, Iowa, and Rutgers.

4. Sylvia Hatchell - 801 (active)

Hatchell is the only women's basketball coach to win championships at the AIAW (small college), NAIA and NCAA Division I levels. She won the 1994 NCAA title as coach of the Tar Heels -- and her Carolina team is a threat to win another championship in 2009.

5. Tara VanDerveer - 739 (active)

The coach of the reigning champions, VanDerveer has won three NCAA titles (1990, 1992, 2008) during her tenure at Stanford.

6. Kay Yow - 737

Kay Yow is one of the most successful coaches in the history of women's college basketball, with over 700 career wins and a gold medal from the 1988 Seoul Olympics on her resume. But her contributions to society went far beyond the basketball court -- diagnosed with breast cancer in 1987, Yow became a major force in fundraising efforts, and served on the board of the V Foundation. She passed away on January 24, 2009 at the age of 66.

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