Aug. 29, 2007
SAN DIEGO -
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Heidi VanDerveer, who has over 20 years of experience on both the collegiate and professional levels, has been named associate head basketball coach at San Diego State, Aztec head coach Beth Burns announced Wednesday.
"We are thrilled to announce the addition of coach Heidi VanDerveer to our Aztec Basketball staff as our associate head coach," Burns said. "Coach VanDerveer's extensive basketball background, coupled with her great passion and enthusiasm, makes her addition not just a great hire for our staff, but a bonus for our entire SDSU athletic department. She is an immediate impact person; our players will greatly benefit from having a coach with such an extensive pro background. She has spent the last 10 years preparing the best to be the best in the WNBA.
"I have known, and worked with Heidi, for many years. There is no greater teacher of the game, especially at the guard position. Our familiarity with each other will make for a smooth transition. Our 2007-08 goals are set high, and I know coach VanDerveer is eager to help us reach them."
VanDerveer comes to San Diego State from the Seattle Storm, where she recently completed her second season as an assistant under head coach Anne Donovan. The Storm advanced to the WNBA playoffs in each of her two campaigns in Seattle.
VanDerveer began her coaching career as a graduate assistant for Pat Summitt at the University of Tennessee, when the Lady Volunteers won the 1987 national championship and advanced to the 1988 Final Four. She then spent six seasons as an assistant at the University of South Carolina (1988-94), helping to guide the Gamecocks to three NCAA tournament appearances, including a trip to the Sweet 16 in 1990, and a conference tournament title in 1989.
In 1994, she was hired as the head coach at Eastern Washington, where she led the Eagles to 12 victories in her inaugural campaign and back-to-back Big Sky tournament appearances, including the school's first in five years.
VanDerveer's first stint in the WNBA came as an assistant coach with the Sacramento Monarchs in 1997, before being promoted to head coach of the Monarchs in 1997-98. She spent four years with the Minnesota Lynx as both an assistant (1999-2002) and head coach (2002). VanDerveer served as a league scout from 2003-05, while also working one year at the University of San Francisco as an assistant and later head coach.
In addition to her extensive experience in both the professional and collegiate coaching ranks, VanDerveer has worked with USA Basketball as a scout for the 2006 World Championship team and as a court manager for World Championship, World University, Goodwill Games and select squads.
A native of Chautauqua, N.Y., she was a four-year letterwinner in basketball at the College of Charleston from 1982-86, serving as team captain as senior. She earned her bachelor's degree in political science in 1986, and also has a master's degree in physical education/sports psychology from the University of Tennessee (1988).
She replaces former Aztec assistant coach Kate Paye, who left to take a similar position in June at her alma mater, Stanford, where VanDerveer's sister, Tara, is head coach.
The Heidi VanDerveer File
Birthdate
February 11, 1964
Hometown
Chautauqua, N.Y.
High School
Wando High School (Mt. Pleasant, S.C.)
Alma Mater
College of Charleston `86
Coaching Career
2005-07
Seattle Storm (Asst. Coach)
2004-05
University of San Francisco (Asst./Head Coach)
2002
Minnesota Lynx (Head Coach)
1999-02
Minnesota Lynx (Asst. Coach)
1997-98
Sacramento Monarchs (Head Coach)
1997
Sacramento Monarchs (Asst. Coach)
1994-97
Eastern Washington University (Head Coach)
1988-94
University of South Carolina (Asst. Coach)
1986-88
University of Tennessee (Graduate Asst. Coach)