318 Foundation is honored to highlight Vivian Stringer during this March Madness season, who holds one of the greatest records in all of women’s college basketball. With 1055 wins under her belt, Stringer has had a long and successful career spanning several decades. As one of the only coaches in NCAA history to lead three separate programs to the NCAA final four, Stringer has had an impressive career with consistent success on and off the court.
Stringer was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2009 and became the first African American coach in college basketball to win 1000 games. These monumental moments further proved that Stringer is one of the greatest women’s basketball coaches of all time.
In honor of her 1000th win, Dawn Staley wrote,
"I have admired you as a coach for so many years — as a player and later coaching against you. So much of what we are able to accomplish in women’s basketball today is because of what you have done. And you have done it in such an elegant way, reminding the rest of us in a profession that doesn’t have many African-American women to set the example for being successful, being respectful of the game and having great character when it comes to coaching young women.
You are such a powerful voice in our game, our profession, and never more than when you reach back to those who aspire to continue your legacy of growing our game. Whenever we cross paths, you always take time to share your vision and wisdom, to remind me that what we do, as African-American coaches, has impact beyond our programs and our immediate communities."
At 318 Foundation, we value the impact and importance of coaches like Vivian Stringer have on their communities. April Sykes, 318 SPORTS Skills Development Coach and former stand out player at Rutgers, admits to the challenges of training with someone who expects excellence.
“It’s a test everyday. She [didn’t] take light on any player, especially players with potential.”
At 318 Foundation, we believe that potential can be cultivated through community, hard work, and coming together to support the girls that need it.
In historically underserved communities, young girls face a significant opportunity gap due to complex social, economic, and educational challenges, creating formidable barriers to their success. With this in mind, 318 Foundation was founded.
Of our three programs, 318 SPORTS is dedicated to empowering exceptionally talented athletes who may lack exposure or the necessary support to unlock their full potential. Our mission is to create transformative elite training experiences that not only enhance their athletic abilities but also focus on personal growth and empowerment.
It is our goal to have girls from historically underserved communities have the access and opportunity to find coaches and mentors that are as instrumental as Vivian Stringer was to all the girls she coached over her 50-year career.
Taking inspiration, we aim to help guide the next generation.
Join us in the journey towards excellence with 318 SPORTS.
Subscribe to our newsletter today and follow as we highlight other notable examples of excellent leadership and mentorship in collegiate sports throughout March Madness: https://www.318foundation.org/
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