Women’s college basketball coaches with the most wins in DI history

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UConn’s Geno Auriemma tied Stanford’s Tara VanDerveer as the winningest coach in Division I basketball history — men or women — on Friday, Nov. 15, 2024 when UConn topped North Carolina, 69-58. It’s Auriemma’s 1,216th win.

Auriemma is in his 40th season as the Huskies’ head coach. VanDerveer retired at the end of last season. Auriemma would break the record if UConn beats Fairleigh Dickinson on Wednesday, Nov. 20.

Former Duke men’s coach Mike Krzyzewski holds the men’s record with 1,202 wins.

Here’s a look at the all-time wins leaders in DI women’s college basketball:

* = Active as of 2024-2025 season
% = numbers updated through Nov. 15, 2024

Rank Coach Seasons Wins Losses WL % School(s)
T1 Tara VanDerveer 45 1,216 271 .818 Stanford (1996-97 – 2023-24); Stanford (1985-86 – 1994-95); Ohio St. (1980-81 – 1984-85); Idaho (1978-79 – 1979-80)
T1 Geno Auriemma*% 40 1,216 162 .882 UConn (1985-86 – present)
3 Pat Summit 38 1,098 208 .841 Tennessee (1974-75 – 2011-12)
4 Barbara Stevens 43 1,058 291 .784 Bentley (1986-87 – 2019-20); Massachusetts (1983-84 – 1985-86); Clark (MA) (1977-78 – 1982-83)
5 C. Vivian Stringer 50 1,055 426 .712 Rutgers (1995-96 – 2021-22); Iowa (1983-84 – 1994-95); Cheyney State (1971-72 – 1982-83)
6 Sylvia Hatchell 44 1,023 405 .716 North Carolina (1986-87 – 2018-19); Francis Marion (1975-76 – 1985-86)
7 Muffet McGraw 38 936 293 .762 Notre Dame (1987-88 – 2019-20); Lehigh (1982-83 – 1986-87)
8 Jim Foster 40 903 347 .722 Chattanooga (2013-14 – 2017-18); Ohio St. (2002-03 – 2012-13); Vanderbilt (1991-92 – 2001-02); Saint Joseph’s (1978-79 – 1990-91)
9 Jody Conradt 38 900 309 .744 UT Arlington (1973-74 – 1975-76); Texas (1976-77 – 2006-07); Sam Houston St. (1969-70 – 1972-73)
10 Lisa Bluder 40 884 396 .691 Iowa (2000-01 – 2023-24); Drake (1990-91 – 1999-00); St. Ambrose (1984-85 – 1989-90)
11 Robin Selvig 38 865 286 .752 Montana (1978-79 – 2015-16)
12 Andy Landers 36 862 299 .742 Georgia (1979-80 – 2014-15)
13 Gary Blair 37 852 348 .710 Texas A&M (2003-04 – 2021-22); Arkansas (1993-94 – 2002-03); SFA (1985-86 – 1992-93)
14 Doug Bruno* 38 786 405 .660 DePaul (1988-89 – present); DePaul (1976-77 – 1977-78)
15 Harry Perretta 42 783 489 .616 Villanova (1978-79 – 2019-20)
16 Bill Fennelly* 36 777 366 .680 Iowa St. (1995-96 – present); Toledo (1988-89 – 1994-95)
17 Joe McKeown* 38 768 414 .650 Northwestern (2008-09 – present); George Washington (1989-90 – 2007-08); New Mexico St. (1986-87 – 1988-89)
18 Debbie Ryan 34 739 324 0.695 Virginia (1977-78 – 2010-11)
19 Kay Yow 38 737 344 0.682 NC State (1975-76 – 2008-09); Elon (1971-72 – 1974-75)
20 Kim Mulkey* 24 723 118 .860 LSU (2021-22 – present); Baylor (2000-01 – 2019-20)
21 Sue Gunter 34 708 308 0.697 SFA (1968-69 – 1979-80); LSU (1982-83 – 2003-04)
22 Cindy Russo 38 707 408 0.634 FIU (1980-81 – 2014-15); Lamar University (1978-79 – 1979-80); FIU (1977-78 – 1977-78)
23 Joan Bonvicini 36 701 421 0.625 Seattle U (2009-10 – 2015-16); Arizona (1991-92 – 2007-08); Long Beach St. (1979-80 – 1990-91)
24 Stephanie Gaitley* 37 698 410 .630 FDU (2023-24 – present) Fordham (2011-12 – 2021-22); Monmouth (2008-09 – 2010-11); LIU (2002-03 – 2007-08); Saint Joseph’s (1991-92 – 2000-01); Richmond (1985-86 – 1990-91)
25 Rene Portland 31 693 265 .723 Penn State (1980-81 – 2006-07); Colorado (1978-79 – 1979-80); Saint Joseph’s (1976-77 – 1977-78)

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