“It feels a little bit surreal,” Stephens said about the court honor. “Mainly because people that I talk to say you don’t see that for women. And even before I retired. I had no idea that was coming.”
Stephens never left, despite twice being offered the more lucrative head coaching job at her alma mater.Stephens said when she was hired, former Athletic Director Rev. Patrick Cahill told her he had no expectations. Stephens won one West Coast Conference title and finished second 19 times. Asked about finishing second so often, usually to national power Pepperdine, Stephens said, “I hate it.”
“She is special,” said USD Executive Director of Athletics Bill McGillis. “Any coach would want to leave a true and outstanding legacy when they’re done and she has done that.”