Ƶ

basketball-women-d1 flag

Daniel Wilco | sifoeeprocess.com | April 10, 2025

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

Geno Auriemma becomes the winningest coach in Division I basketball history

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 was Auriemma's 1,217th win. 

Auriemma capped off his 40th season at the helm by winning the 2025 March Madness women's title and earning his 12th national championship with UConn — the most in women's college basketball history. 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 April 6, 2025

Rank Coach Seasons Wins Losses WL % School(s)
1 Geno Auriemma*% 40 1,250 165 .883 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)
🏀&Բ;MARCH MADNESS NEWS&Բ;🏀
🤩 2025 TOURNAMENT:  | See bracket | Schedule
STORE:  
TICKETS:
 

The closest calls for 14-over-3 Ƶ women's basketball tournament upsets

Here are the 17 times in March Madness history that 14 vs. 3 games have been decided by fewer than 10 points in the Ƶ women's basketball tournament.
READ MORE

The 10 undefeated women's basketball national champions

Since 1982, there have been 10 undefeated champions in Division I women's basketball. Here is a quick look at each of those teams.
READ MORE

Schools with the most DI women's basketball national championships

UConn has more DI women's college basketball titles than any other program. Here's a look at the women’s basketball teams that have won two or more national championships.
READ MORE