BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — With a career spanning nearly 40 years, Vic Schaefer has joined an exclusive group of coaches after steering a second team to the Final Four of the NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament. On Monday night, Schaefer’s Texas Longhorns secured a hard-fought 58-47 victory over TCU, marking a significant achievement for the 64-year-old coach.
This victory coincided with the anniversary of one of Schaefer’s most memorable wins during his tenure at Mississippi State. It was exactly eight years ago that his Bulldogs famously snapped UConn’s 111-game winning streak, thanks to a last-second overtime shot by Morgan William, catapulting them into the national championship game.
Reflecting on his journey, Schaefer fondly recalled his former player, Morgan William, emphasizing her role beyond that iconic moment. “Pretty special moment. I think of Morgan William all the time, not for that shot, but who she was and what she brought to that team. Had some really great point guards in the course of my career,” Schaefer shared.
In Texas, Rori Harmon has emerged as the latest key player, helping lead the team to its first Final Four in two decades. Schaefer demonstrated his attention to detail and care for his players, even ensuring Harmon safely ascended the ladder to cut down the winning net. “He’s always going to be looking after us for sure,” Harmon remarked. “Every situation, even climbing up a ladder, it’s kind of dangerous. He’d be right there just in case. Shows what type of person he is.”
Schaefer now sets his sights on overcoming South Carolina and their coach, Dawn Staley, to whom he lost during his previous Final Four journey with Mississippi State. With five years taken to achieve Final Four status with both the Bulldogs and Longhorns, Schaefer aims for a victorious conclusion this time around.
Despite a loss against South Carolina in the 2017 championship and three defeats during that season, Schaefer has already led Texas to one victory in their three encounters this year. “We played really well at our place, had a bad quarter in the SEC Tournament,” Schaefer mentioned. “They put it on us in the first half at their place. We have a ton of experiences to draw from and learn from. We got to learn and be different.”