Honorary Member C. Vivian Stringer Selected for Basketball Hall of Fame
Honored for pioneering accomplishments in college coaching
She stands on par with former NBA greats Michael Jordan, John Stockton, David Robinson and former Utah Jazz coach Jerry Sloan, who were selected from a group of 16 finalists announced in Detroit during the men's Final Four NCAA Championship.
Stringer, 61, was elected to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in her fourth time as a finalist for the coveted honor. Former Cheyney State and Temple University coach John Chaney will present her for induction during the enshrinement ceremonies Sept. 10-12 in Springfield, MA.
"I don't know how I'm going to handle it in September. You feel fortunate to be able to do something you love. To be recognized like this, you can't be anything other than grateful."
She was the first coach—man or woman—to take three different schools (Cheyney, Iowa, Rutgers) to the NCAA Final Four. She has reached nine regional finals and earned National Coach of the Year honors three times.
She ranks third in all-time wins in women's college basketball history. In 38 seasons, Stringer has compiled an 825-280 record, including 21 NCAA Tournament appearances.
Speaking with reporters after her selection into the Hall was announced, Stringer reminisced about her days at Cheyney. In 1982, she led the small, historically black college into the first NCAA women's Final Four against much larger universities.
"I'm always impressed with those who have nothing and rise to a level to accomplish something," she said in an interview published in The Philadelphia Inquirer.
"When I had the opportunity to take Cheyney State to the Final Four, we had a budget of like $150 and we were there with Maryland, Tennessee and Louisiana Tech," Stringer said. "It wasn't about riches, but it was in your heart and how hard you worked. So I couldn't help but admire this team because of what we didn't have and where we came from."
At Rutgers, Stringer has won nearly 300 games in her 14-year tenure as head coach. She has taken the school to two Final Fours (2000 and 2007).
She is also a member of the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame and was an assistant on the 2004 Olympics gold medal team.
Stringer was one of four exemplary women inducted as Honorary Members during the Sorority's Centennial Convention last July in Washington, DC.