Bentley coach Barbara Stevens inducted into Basketball Hall of Fame
Bentley University women's basketball coach Barbara Stevens has enjoyed a long, successful career filled with accolades and milestones.
One memorable milestone came on Jan. 25, 2014, when Stevens notched her 900th career victory with a 98-82 win over St. Anselm at the Dana Center in Waltham. After the game, a phalanx of reporters and camera crews surrounded Stevens courtside for a comment.
"Where do you go from here?" a reporter asked Stevens.
"901" was her reply — an accurate summation her low-key coaching style.
Stevens has since eclipsed the millennial milestone for career wins and Friday she was bestowed the ultimate accolade: a spot in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. The induction ceremonies are scheduled to be held in Springfield on Aug. 28-30.
"The incredible emotions that I felt after receiving the call from the Hall of Fame on Friday afternoon, I can't even put into words," said Stevens, who just completed her 34th season at Bentley and 43rd as a college coach. She also coached six seasons at Clark University in Worcester and three at UMass.
With a career record of 1,058-291 overall (901-200 at Bentley), Stevens is the fourth-winningest coach in NCAA history. She currently trails Pat Summitt, Tara VanDerveer and Geno Auriemma, all of whom are in the Hall of Fame.
Stevens is a five-time WBCA Division II National Coach of the Year, has overseen 12 seasons with 30 or more wins and 30 with over 20 wins.
She has a staggering .818 winning percentage that includes 31 NCAA tournament berths, 14 regional titles and 10 appearances in the Final Four. She won the national championship in 2014 with a remarkable 35-0 run.
"Pages could be written about Barbara's accomplishments," said Bentley AD Bob DeFelice. "But simply stated, it's a great award for a great person."
Stevens was elected to the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame in 2006.
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