TRAILBLAZER AWARD
Head Coach, Women’s Basketball, Rutgers University
One of the most recognizable names and faces in all of college basketball, C. Vivian Stringer has built an illustrious career highlighted by countless unforgettable moments and is on the cusp of becoming only one of a handful of collegiate coaches to reach the 1,000 career victory milestone. She is the parent of a daughter with multiple significant disabilities who will accompany her to the PLAN/NJ 30th Anniversary: A Celebration of Abilities event.

In her 47 seasons, Stringer has transformed three programs into national title contenders. She is a 2001 inductee into the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame, was named one of the “101 Most Influential Minorities in Sports” by Sports Illustrated in 2003, and served as an assistant coach for the gold-medal winning U.S. Olympic Team in 2004.

Stringer prides herself on not only teaching her players the game of basketball, but more importantly providing them life lessons that stand the test of time. Her perseverance and strength in the eyes of adversity have meant the most to the people around her. A coal miner’s daughter, Stringer learned a valuable lesson from her parents growing up in the small tight-knit community of Edenborn in western Pennsylvania: “Work hard and don’t look for excuses, and you can achieve anything.”