The Texas Longhorns women’s basketball are enjoying an incredible run in March Madness under head coach Vic Schaefer. The program defeated No. 8 Oregon Ducks 100-58 in the second round of the NCAA Tournament. Previously, they defeated No. 16 Missouri State 87-45 in the first round.
Ahead of the Sweet 16 encounter against No. 5 Kentucky, Schaefer spoke highly about Rori Harmon, who received an outstanding farewell while playing for the final time at her home in the second round.
“For five years I’ve come to the office and every day I’ve seen Rori Harmon,” Schaefer said. “There’s not enough time out here today to talk about it. You just gotta know how special it’s been.”
When Harmon first started, she was not sure she could be the team’s point guard. But Schaefer forced her to take on the role.
“I told her, ‘Hey, if you don’t want that responsibility, go play the two, but you ain’t a two-guard,” Schaefer said. “Late in the year, it got to be kind of funny. She’d look at me and go, ‘I know, it’s my fault.’ That was part of the evolution in our relationship, her understanding that you’re in charge, but you got to do it my way, not your way.”
Schaefer also added about the change Harmon’s presence has brought in his personal life.
“She’s as much like me as anybody I’ve ever coached,” Schaefer said last week. “We both live and die with every possession and we’re both passionate. That’s not to say it’s always been peaches and cream. We’ve butted heads, but that’s OK. She’s made me a better husband, a better father. She’s made me a better coach.”
Texas HC Vic Schaefer Named Naismith Coach of the Year Finalist
Vic Schaefer has led Texas well this season, a 33-3 overall record, winning SEC Tournament and earning the No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament. This is despite the head coach having to change three starters from their last season’s lineup.
Schaefer was named a finalist for the 2026 Werner Ladder Naismith Women’s College Coach of the Year on Wednesday.
This is the Longhorns’ third straight 30+ win season, marking such a streak for the first time since 1988. Since the 2023-24 season, Schaefer is 101-12 as head coach.
UConn’s Geno Auriemma, UCLA’s Cori Close and Vanderbilt’s Shea Ralph are the other finalists.
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