[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 121 (Tuesday, July 25, 1995)]
[Senate]
[Pages S10660-S10661]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                           C. VIVIAN STRINGER

 Mr. HARKIN. Mr. President, like many of my fellow Iowans, I 
was saddened to learn that one of our most distinguished citizens will 
be leaving the Hawkeye State.
  Last week, C. Vivian Stringer, the head coach of the women's 
basketball team at the University of Iowa announced that she will be 
leaving that post to take over as the women's basketball head coach at 
Rutgers University. We will miss her and wish her well.
  Vivian's accomplishments at Iowa have been remarkable, to say the 
very least, and are worthy of our recognition.
  Vivian came to the University of Iowa in 1983, taking over a 
struggling women's basketball program. Prior to her arrival, the team's 
record was a disappointing 88-139. Further, no players had ever been 
named to the all Big Ten or academic all Big Ten teams in the history 
of the school.
  To make things worse, attendance at the women's basketball games was 
extremely poor, as the average attendance at Iowa home games was a mere 
380 fans. The Hawkeyes had only made one national postseason tournament 
appearance in school history, and the program showed few signs of life.
  This all changed when Vivian became the head coach, and in 12 years, 
she would make a substantial impact not only on Iowa's athletic 
program, but on women's athletics nationally.

[[Page S 10661]]

  As Vivian leaves the university and the State of Iowa behind, she 
leaves a legacy that will live on in the hearts of many, as well as in 
the record books. Vivian built the Hawkeyes into a national powerhouse, 
lifting the team's overall record to 357-223, and taking them to 10 
national postseason tournament appearances.
  Eight Hawkeye players have been named to the all Big Ten team, and 
seven have been named academic all Big Ten during Vivian's time at 
Iowa. By guiding her team to wins in 148 of 173 regular season home 
games, attendance has risen to an average of 6,147 fans for each game.
  Iowans will always remember her for leading her team to the NCAA 
Final Four in 1992-93 for the first time in school history, just months 
after losing her husband, Bill Stringer, to a heart attack. Her 
triumphs that year were not just on the basketball court, but they were 
triumphs of the human spirit.
  Vivian has meant a lot to women's athletics in general. She has 
brought her successes at Iowa to a national level, and garnered much 
respect for women athletes and coaches. In the world of college 
athletics, women have too often taken a backseat to men's athletics, 
and clearly do not receive the level of support that men's athletics 
does. Vivian has done much to raise women's athletics to a higher 
level, and indeed, she has enjoyed much success.
  As sorry as the State of Iowa is to see her go, the step she is 
taking is a giant step forward for women's athletics, as well as an 
important step forward for Vivian and her family.
  Vivian Stringer is truly a remarkable woman. She has triumphed in the 
face of tragedy, and has made a lasting impression on the people of 
Iowa, and on women's athletics. She accomplished the goals she set at 
Iowa, namely filling Carver-Hawkeye Arena, and taking the Hawkeyes to a 
Final Four. She successfully put Iowa women's basketball on the 
national map. She will be missed.


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