Coach Stringer a Naismith Finalist

Fresh off her 800th career victory, Rutgers Head Women's Basketball Coach C. Vivian Stringer conitnues to reel in the accolades. Coach Stringer, along with Coach Geno Auriemma of Connecticut, have been named finalists for the 2008 Naismith Women’s College Coach of the Year honor.

The Naismith Award is the equivalent of the Heisman. It is the most prestigious national award presented to the premiere men’s and women’s college basketball coaches, given anualy.

A pair of Big East Conference coaches are among the four finalists for this year's award: Coach C. Vivian Stringer and Coach Auriemma.

Rutgers' Coach Stringer is a former Naismith Award winner, having been awarded the honor back in 1993 while still at Iowa.

Coach Stringer is the third winningest coach in women's basketball history, having won her 800th career game on February 27, 2008. The Slippery Rock University graduate is the only coach in NCAA history to lead three different women's programs to the NCAA Final Four, having accomplished the impressive feat twice while at Rutgers (2000 and 2007). Coach Stringer, a former Naismith College Coach of the Year honoree, is also a member of the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame.

This year's winner will be announced during the 2008 NCAA Women’s Final Four in Tampa, Fla.

Coach Stringer's Scarlet Knights (24-5, 14-2)enter this year's Big East Tournament as a #2 seed and will begin play on Sunday, at 6 p.m. The Scarlet Knights will face the winner of No. 7 Louisville vs. No. 10 St. John’s, a game that will be played at 6 p.m. on Saturday, March 8th.