PHILADELPHIA — Tom Shirley, the head coach at Jefferson University, has achieved an impressive milestone by reaching 900 career wins, becoming only the second women’s coach in Division II history to do so.

Shirley secured his 900th victory on Wednesday evening when the Rams triumphed over Caldwell University with a score of 58-33.

Having devoted 35 of his 43 years in coaching to Jefferson University, Shirley stands as the active leader in career wins within Division II. He is only surpassed by Barbara Stevens, who boasts 1,058 victories overall. With this latest win, Shirley now holds the 10th position among all college coaches across divisions, and just four additional wins would elevate him to ninth place. Additionally, he ranks third among current head coaches across Division I, II, and III.

“It is important to recognize that while reaching 900 career wins is an individual accomplishment, it is fundamentally a collective effort,” Shirley remarked. “This achievement is attributed to generations of exceptional players who excelled both in athletics and academics. The contributions of assistant coaches, university personnel, and a nurturing administration also warrant commendation.”

Throughout his tenure with the Rams and at DeSales University, Shirley has achieved 38 winning seasons. Last year, he guided the Rams to an outstanding 32-2 record. His accolades include three Coach of the Year awards from the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference, nine conference championships, and 13 appearances in the NCAA Tournament.

“I genuinely value the consistent performance our teams have delivered over the past 43 years, averaging 21 wins per season,” Shirley stated. “Recruiting has been a crucial factor in our success, made easier by the stellar reputation of Thomas Jefferson University, both academically and professionally.”