Vic Schaefer, who happens to be the head coach of the Texas Longhorns, has officially etched his name into women’s basketball history.
On Monday night, Schaefer led Texas to a 58-47 victory over TCU in the Elite Eight, securing a spot for the Longhorns in their first Final Four since 2003.
The win marked a milestone for Schaefer, making him the fifth coach in history to ever guide two different programs to the prestigious NCAA Women’s Final Four. Amazing!
At 64 years old, Schaefer is no stranger to high-pressure moments. In fact, this victory came exactly eight years after one of the biggest wins of his career—when he was coaching at Mississippi State.
Back in 2017, Schaefer’s Bulldogs famously snapped UConn’s 111-game winning streak with an overtime win, propelling them to the national championship game. Reflecting on his time with the Bulldogs, Schaefer fondly remembers standout players like Morgan William, who made that legendary last-second shot.
“This is a pretty special moment for me,” Schaefer said after Texas secured the win over TCU. “I think of Morgan all the time, not just for that shot, but for who she was and what she brought to that team.”
Leading the charge for Texas this year is star point guard Rori Harmon, who has been a pivotal player in the Longhorns’ journey to the Final Four.
Schaefer’s nurturing leadership extends even to moments as simple as helping his players safely climb the ladder to cut down the net, showing the care and support that has defined his career.
Texas’ next challenge will be facing defending champion South Carolina and their legendary coach, Dawn Staley.
Schaefer is no stranger to Staley’s powerhouse team, having faced them multiple times during his tenure at Mississippi State, including in the 2017 championship game.
This time, however, Schaefer’s Longhorns have already secured a victory against South Carolina, setting the stage for what promises to be an exciting matchup.
Schaefer’s journey, which took five years to bring Mississippi State to the Final Four and now the same amount of time with Texas, is a testament to his coaching prowess. With years of experience under his belt, Schaefer is looking for redemption after falling short in that 2017 championship game.
“I’ve learned a lot, and we’re ready to be different,” Schaefer said, as he prepares for the Final Four showdown.