Just over 10 years ago, Vic Schaefer recruited Victoria Vivians to come play college basketball for him and the Mississippi State Bulldogs.
They went on to two consecutive finishes as the NCAA Tournament runners-up (2017, 2018), before Vivians went on to a near-decade-long career in the WNBA starting in 2018 and before Schaefer was hired by the Texas Longhorns in 2020.
Now, after two years as an assistant coach at MSU, her former head coach has brought Vivians onto the Horns' coaching staff, recruiting her to work alongside him once again.
Regarded as one of the best players, if not the best player, that Schaefer has ever coached, Vivians brings a knowledge and skill set to the 40 Acres that the Longhorns lost when former assistant coach Sydney Carter announced she was leaving for a job with the Auburn Tigers.
welcome to Texas, @VictoriaVivians! 🤘#HookEm pic.twitter.com/mTo6rZlwCn
— Texas Women's Basketball (@TexasWBB) August 4, 2026
Victoria Vivians' winning experience may push Texas over the hump
"We are so excited to announce the addition of Victoria Vivians as an assistant coach here at The University of Texas in women's basketball," Schaefer said in a press release. "She knows what it takes to not only be the best in college, but also knows what it is to be an elite player at the professional level."
Carter had spent the last four seasons with the Longhorns as one of Schaefer's assistants and the director of player development. While Vivians had been working as an assistant coach and the Director of Scouting at Mississippi State, it wouldn't be surprising if she stepped into a role more similar to Carter's at Texas.
"Her insight, perspective, and expertise will allow her to help prepare our team, along with the rest of my staff," Schaefer said. "She will help our student-athletes be great at the collegiate level and beyond. It is with great excitement we welcome Victoria Vivians to the Longhorn family."
While playing for Schaefer in college, Vivians played alongside Blair Schaefer, the Texas head coach's daughter, who is also on the Longhorns' coaching staff. In her college career, Vivians averaged 17.1 points, 5.3 rebounds, 1.5 steals, 1.4 assists, and 0.3 blocks per game, while starting at guard for the Bulldogs.
She was the eighth overall pick in the 2018 WNBA Draft, going to the Indiana Fever, before playing her final season in the league for the Seattle Storm in 2024.
At the end of the last two seasons, Schaefer led the Longhorns to back-to-back appearances in the Final Four, falling just short of a bert into National Championship both years. Maybe, just maybe, Vivian's experience of taking a team to two National Championships could make the difference.
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