Bentley's Barbara Stevens A Finalist For NCAA Division II Gold Award

News release from Bentley University Athletics.

WALTHAM, MA — Retired Bentley University women’s basketball coach Barbara Stevens, a 2020 inductee into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, has been named one of 45 finalists for the NCAA Division II 50th Anniversary Gold Award.

The award, which is part of the division’s yearlong 50th anniversary celebration, will recognize two individuals (one male, one female) who have made a lasting and positive impact in Division II.

Conference offices reviewed the initial pool of 231 nominated individuals and each selected two honorees. The NCAA Division II Management Council Identity Subcommittee will review these finalists and select the two overall winners, who will be recognized at the 2024 NCAA Convention in Phoenix.

The conference honorees included current and former student-athletes, coaches, faculty members, commissioners and administrators who have helped shape Division II over time.

“To represent Bentley University and the Northeast 10 Conference in this prestigious group of Division II administrators, coaches and athletes being considered for the NCAA Division II 50th Anniversary Gold Award is an incredible honor,” said Stevens. “I am extremely humbled!”

"Each of these finalists in their own way have made a significant impact on Division II," said Terri Steeb Gronau, vice president of Division II. "And from a collective perspective, their commitment to Division II values in helping student-athletes get the most from their college experience is tremendous and has made us what we are today as a division. I couldn't be prouder of this group, and it truly will be a challenge to select only two final recipients of the Gold Award."

The accomplishments of Stevens, Bentley’s head coach from 1986-2020, are unparalleled in NCAA Division II women’s basketball history. And in addition to being an outstanding coach, Stevens is an even better person.

The fourth winningest coach in NCAA history behind Tara VanDerveer, Geno Auriemma and Pat Summitt, Stevens retired from a 44-year coaching career with a 1058-291 record, including 901-200 during her 34 Bentley seasons. Her three-plus decades at Bentley featured 31 NCAA Division II tournament appearances, 14 Elite Eights and 38 Northeast-10 championships (21 regular season, 17 tournament).

There were a dozen 30-win seasons with the pinnacle of her coaching career coming in March 2014 when Stevens led her team to the national championship. The Falcons capped a magnificent 35-0 season with a remarkable comeback against West Texas A&M. Down nine with 5:37 to play and six with three minutes remaining, Stevens’ squad closed with a press-fueled 19-5 run to prevail 73-65. That was just the second time in Division II history there was an unbeaten national champion.

Stevens, who coached in Division I (UMass) and Division Ill (Clark) before finding her home in Division II, was recognized as the Russell/WBCA Division II National Coach of the Year an unprecedented five times and earned the Northeast-10 Coach of the Year award 16 times. While she has 1058 career victories, no other coach in Division II women’s basketball history has as many as 850.

Stevens, a graduate of Bridgewater State University, has made her mark away from the court as well. She is the only Division II coach to ever serve as President of the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association, a position she held during 1994-95. In 2022, Stevens received the Dream Big! Inspirational Leader Award. Dream Big! is a non-profit organization whose mission is to help girls and young women from low-income situations achieve their dreams by providing them with the sports equipment, sports attire, athletic footwear, program fees and college showcase scholarships needed to enable them to participate in sports and physical activities.

In addition to the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame where she was part of a class that included Kevin Garnett, Tim Duncan and Kobe Bryant, Stevens has been inducted into the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame as well as the Northeast-10, Bentley, Clark and Bridgewater State halls.

In 2002, Stevens was presented with the prestigious Carol Eckman Award from the WBCA, given for sportsmanship, commitment to the student-athlete, honesty, ethical behavior, courage and dedication to purpose.

In 2022, Stevens was awarded an Honorary Doctorate in Public Education by her alma mater and spoke at the BSU commencement.