Stringer, C. Vivian (1948–)

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Stringer, C. Vivian (1948–)

African-American coach. Name variations: Vivian Stringer. Born in Edenborn, Pennsylvania, Mar 16, 1948; attended Slippery Rock State College, Pennsylvania; m. gymnast Bill Stringer (died 1992); children: David, Janine, and Justin.

The 1st women's basketball coach in US to take 2 different college teams to NCAA Final Four and the 3rd all-time winningest Division I coach in women's basketball, spent 11 seasons at Cheyney State University (1971–82), where she took the team to the finals of 1st Final Four when the National Collegiate Athletics Association (NCAA) started a women's championship tournament (1981); served as head coach of the Hawkeyes, the University of Iowa's women's basketball team (1983–95), where she had 10 straight 20-victory seasons and won 6 conference championships; became 1 of only 5 active coaches with 500 career victories (1994); accepted a base salary of $150,000 a year (higher than any male coach at Rutgers) to become women's basketball coach at Rutgers University (1995); by 1997–98, racked up a 20-win season and an NCAA Tournament bid; took her Rutger's Team to the Final Four (2000); won 700th game (2004). Named Naismith National Coach of the Year (1993); received the Carol Eckman Award; named national coach of the year 3 times.

See also Women in World History.