The university that produced the founders of Netflix, PayPal, Google, Hewlett-Packard and Yahoo is the perfect place for Tara VanDerveer.

Where else but Stanford for the woman who loves nothing more than to see what others do successfully so that she can apply it to her own trade?

"There is a culture of excellence here," VanDerveer said. "We are part of a special place in time, to be here, to be in the Silicon Valley and the Bay Area. It's very energizing and it's motivating. It gives me an incredible amount of energy."

She has used that energy to an end that few other people in her profession can claim.

Tara VanDerveer has guided the Cardinal to 21 regular-season Pac-12 titles, 10 league tournament crowns and two NCAA championships. Kirby Lee/Getty Images

The venerable Stanford women's basketball coach -- with her crisp suits, impeccable preparation and dry wit -- is about to become just the fifth women's college basketball coach to win 900 career games.

It is fitting that this milestone will very likely take place in a gym in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, this week in front of what is equally likely to be an intimate crowd of her players' families, a few Stanford die-hards and some friends. Low-profile is fine by her.

"I don't like to be the center of attention," VanDerveer said. "I'm fine just kind of being the person behind the scenes."

Winning 900 games makes that too much to ask. VanDerveer will join Tennessee legend Pat Summitt, former Texas coach Jody Conradt, North Carolina's Sylvia Hatchell and Rutgers' C. Vivian Stringer in the 900 club, with no impending retirement in sight. VanDerveer recently signed a new contract extension at Stanford, and when asked how long she signed for, she responded with a smile, "As long as I want."

But if 900 wins is an occasion for an ovation and maybe a little cake after the game, the days leading into it are just like any other for the 60-year-old Naismith Hall of Famer.

"I don't think about it," VanDerveer said. "I'm just trying to do what I do every day, trying to think about what we should be doing to beat the next opponent."