UConn’s Geno Auriemma passed Stanford’s Tara VanDerveer as the winningest coach in Division I basketball history — men or women — on Wednesday, Nov. 20, 2024 when UConn defeated Fairleigh Dickinson, 85-41. It’s Auriemma’s 1,217th win.
Auriemma is in his 40th season as the Huskies’ head coach. VanDerveer retired at the end of last season.
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. 20, 2024
| Rank | Coach | Seasons | Wins | Losses | WL % | School(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Geno Auriemma*% | 40 | 1,217 | 162 | .882 | UConn (1985-86 – present) |
| 2 | 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) |
| 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) |
