Chautauqua respite invigorates Tara VanDerveer for Olympics challenge

Tara VanDerveer regrets that she can only spend one week at Chautauqua this summer. Pressing business in Atlanta has called her away. One night this week, she and her mother, Rita, were walking in the cool evening to catch the late showing of “Mr. Holland’s Opus” at the Chautauqua Cinema. In about three weeks VanDerveer’s image will be beamed around the world via NBC satellite as she paces courtside coaching the U.S. Women’s Olympic Basketball Team.

Since her selection as Olympic coach, VanDerveer has had the privilege of training and traveling with the best women’s basketball players in the country. She has taken a one-year leave from her coaching duties at Stanford University to free herself to reach for the Olympic pinnacle of coaching. During her decade at Stanford, VanDerveer has been named National Coach of the Year three times, has won two NCAA Championships and has guided Stanford to more Final Four appearances than any other coach in the 1990’s.

The women’s Olympic team has traveled extensively since last October and has maintained an undefeated record for 51 games, 31 of those wins were over national teams from other countries. This “fun, incredible year” for VanDerveer included trips to Russia, China and Australia. “When I was a kid, my father discouraged my basketball playing, saying I should come in and do my homework. I told him algebra would get me nowhere, and in fact basketball has been my ticket to see the world.”

VanDerveer described here team as “athletic, quick, playing a running game.” She added that her team is smaller than most of the other teams in international competition. Because the team’s success has raised expectations, many fans assume the U.S. team will bring home the gold. Although VanDerveer is confident, she recognizes that the 12-team Olympic pool of international competition is formidable. The coach cites Russia, China, Brazil, Australia and the Ukraine as the United States’ strongest opposition.

After eight grueling months on the road, the coach told her team this past week, “Go home and relax.” As the players scattered, VanDerveer came home to Chautauqua to relax by attending concerts and movies, jogging and playing softball, catching up on lost sleep and reacquainting herself with old friends. As she relaxes at Chautauqua, she also mixes in work by recruiting potential players on the phone.

“Stanford reminds me a lot of Chautauqua. Both are about excellence,” she said.

She also watches hours of game videotape while “relaxing” at Chautauqua, intensely scrawling notes on a yellow pad while watching the tapes.

VanDerveer has spent at least one week at Chautauqua for the past 35 years. Her parents, Dunbar and Rita VanDerveer, have owned and operated the Lakeside Lodge on Simpson Avenue for the past 23 years. Although her parents ironically are not avid basketball fans, she credits them with teaching her “to value health, to be active,” and to overcome bias against women in sports. Her entire family will attend the Olympics in Atlanta to lend support. VanDerveer’s family includes one brother and four sisters. Heidi, the youngest sister, is also a women’s college basketball coach.

Growing up, Tara played against the older boys in basketball at the Boys ‘and Girls’ Club. She credits that experience with developing her interest and skills in basketball. VanDerveer also learned to appreciate music at Chautauqua. She had singing roles in three Chautauqua operas as a child.

Victor Gelb, Chautauqua board member and unofficial president of the Tara VanDerveer Fan Club, said,”Tara is a great motivator.” Gelb, who has known the VanDerveer family for 35 years, added she is an example of “integrity and competence, a wonderful example of Chautauquan character.”

Beth Calhoun Manor, VanDerveer’s counselor at Boys’ and Girls’ Club, said, “One major quality about Tara is that she’s not inflated with her own importance. When she’s in Chautauqua she’s just Tara.” The whole world will be watching the summer Olympics, but Chautauquans will feel special pride and affection because Olympian Tara VanDerveer is one of us.