They have combined to win 14 NCAA titles and have churned out countless All-Americans, Olympians and professional players over the years.

Through it all, they have helped change the game and make it better.

And when you're talking about the best of the coaching bunch, these seven stand out as the top active coaches in Division I women's college basketball.

GENO AURIEMMA, CONNECTICUT

Career record: 483-98 in 18 seasons. Credentials: Four-time Naismith Coach of the Year has guided the Huskies to three national championships in the past eight seasons; only coach to produce two perfect seasons (35-0 in 1995, 39-0 in 2002); program boasts four Olympians and 10 All-Americans.

	Geno Auriemma has won two NCAA titles in the past three seasons.

On Auriemma: After earning his stripes at Virginia and St. Joseph's, Auriemma knew how to run a program. But UConn was nothing when he arrived, and it would take a long-term plan to pull it off, especially since Auriemma inherited some good players, but not the type of player he would eventually be able to land.

Early on, Auriemma just tried to build some respectability, so he went out and scheduled some tough teams. It didn't matter if he won or lost those first couple of seasons. And he did lose. But he got on people's schedules and eventually, he was winning those games. And when Auriemma finally signed the kind of player he'd wanted all along, the Huskies went on to win three NCAA titles in eight years. He has a great eye for talent.

Many people mistake Auriemma's confidence for arrogance, but if you work with him closely, you realize he really has a special relationship with his team. While the media is quick to point out his spats with his players (think Svetlana Abrosimova), the Huskies really do enjoy playing for him. He drives his point home with a little humor, a little sarcasm and a lot of honesty, but at the end of the day his players are better -- and they know he cares. And the bottom line is that this guy can coach and has given our game so much.

Most impressed by: His relationships with his players. He's really warm with them and could be everyone's dad, brother or uncle all at once. Unless you're competing against him, you like him. And maybe he is a little arrogant. But it's not bragging if you bring the goods, and he backs up everything he says.

JODY CONRADT, TEXAS

Career record: 801-263 in 33 seasons. Credentials: Four-time national coach of year; Naismith Hall of Fame inductee in October 1998; first women's team to go unbeaten to win NCAA title (34-0 in 1986); has produced eight Kodak All-Americans; led Texas to 183-game winning streak against Southwest Conference teams, which ranks among longest win streaks for any sport in college history.

	Jody Conradt guided Texas to the first-ever perfect season.

On Conradt: It's no secret that Texas struggled a bit in the mid- to late-1990s during Conradt's tenure as the Longhorns' women's athletic director. But now, Conradt is able to focus all of her energy on her team, and it's paying off. Early on in her career, Conradt enjoyed a lot of success at Texas, and over these past two seasons, the Longhorns look to be back to their winning ways. They've been ranked all season, and Conradt's recruiting also is back on track.

One of the first things you notice about the Longhorns when you watch them play is how free they are. Conradt gives them structure, but she also allows them to play within the context of the game and enjoy it. When her players make mistakes, she doesn't rip them apart. She lets you know you're not getting it done, but she encourages flexibility and risk.

After all these years, Conradt hasn't forgotten that it's still a player's game, that they're the ones out there throwing up the shots. And if they're scared to attempt that shot, something's wrong. But Conradt's got it all right. How else can you explain Nina Norman, who was shooting just 20 percent shooter from 3-point range, nailing a last-second trey as Texas upset Tennessee last month? Her players are happy, enjoying the game and working hard for her.

Most impressed by: Her longevity. After 32 years, she's still doing it. Never mind that people wanted Conradt to retire just a handful of years ago. Instead, she stuck to her guns and has completely reinvented herself and reenergized her program.

GAIL GOESTENKORS, DUKE

Career record: 257-82 in 11 seasons. Credentials: 1999 Victor Award winner also is a four-time ACC Coach of the Year honoree; led Duke to two Final Four appearances in past four years, including trip to 1999 NCAA title game; Duke went 19-0 in ACC play last season to become the first ACC school to go unbeaten in regular-season and conference tournament play.

	Gail Goestenkors led Duke to its second Final Four appearance in 2002.

On Goestenkors: Take a great school and a great recruiter and you're going to build an incredible program. That's what Goestenkors has done at Duke. The mark of a great recruiter is someone who wins some of the recruiting wars against the likes of Tennessee, UConn and Georgia, and nowadays, Goestenkors just gets splendid athletes. She arrived at Duke with a plan 10 years ago, and now the Blue Devils are a championship contender every year.

As a coach, Goestenkors is a very good teacher. I've seen her coach at clinics, and she's very easy to understand. She breaks things down very simplistically, and her players know what their responsibilities are because Goestenkors is very precise and honest in communicating it to them. She tells them exactly what she expects of them, and that way, there's no guessing or confusion. Because of this, Goestenkors' players believe in her and trust her.

Incidentally, she's the only coach on this list who hasn't won an NCAA title -- yet.

Most impressed by: Her confidence. She's at a point in her career where she believes she's one of the elite. She's a completely different person than she was five or six years ago. Goestenkors knows she belongs now, and that confidence has rubbed off on her team. I also like her intensity, her up-tempo style and what Duke comes with on defense.

MUFFET McGRAW, NOTRE DAME

Career record: 441-175 in 21 seasons. Credentials: Went 34-2 to win the program's first national championship while sweeping every major national coaching award in 2001; led Irish to two Final Four appearances; won at least 20 games in 13 seasons at Notre Dame.

	In 2001, Notre Dame's Muffet McGraw won the NCAA title and swept coach of the year honors.

On McGraw: Even though the Irish won the national championship less than two years ago, McGraw is probably the most underrated coach among this group. Her program is solid, yet surprisingly overlooked, and McGraw receives the least amount of exposure.

In that regard, Notre Dame's mystique probably works against her. Many people assume it's easy to sell Notre Dame to a recruit. But the reality is that McGraw is an excellent recruiter who just wins people over with her warmth and personality.

McGraw is an excellent tactician and a hard-working coach who's very detailed. She can change strategies on the fly. Her kids always execute, play smart and don't make a lot of mistakes.

McGraw simply makes players better. Ruth Riley is a perfect example. Coming into South Bend, Ind., Riley already was an outstanding player. But the former Irish center continued to grow and mature as a player -- and went on to win national player of the year honors -- because she had McGraw in her corner.

Most impressed with: Her girl-next-door image. You're not intimidated by McGraw. You just respect and like her.

MARSHA SHARP, TEXAS TECH

Career record: 496-155 in 21 seasons. Credentials: Two-time national coach of the year led the Lady Raiders to a 31-3 mark and the 1993 NCAA title; has made nine appearances in the Sweet 16, including in each of the past four seasons, and notched 17 seasons with at least 20 wins; Lady Raiders boast 99 percent graduation rate.

	Marsha Sharp guided the Lady Raiders to the 1993 NCAA title.

On Sharp: Like Conradt and Summitt, Sharp has withstood the test of time. But what's most impressive is her ability to change and evolve with the times. Early in her career, Sharp had one of the sharpest zones in the games. And if you wanted to learn how to play it, she and Don Chaney were among the first coaches you'd call.

But as her personnel changed, Sharp knew she'd need to make changes to continue to compete at a high level. And so she went out and implemented a man-to-man defense. She went out, asked her peers about how to play it and then brought it back to Lubbock, Texas. Her willingness to abandon everything she know to improve her program speaks volumes.

Lastly, Sharp's among the best in the recruiting game. Nobody is better than Sharp at going out and finding players no one has ever heard of but who end up being stars.

Most impressed by: Her patience. Throughout the years, I've never heard Sharp raise her voice. Her players have immense respect for her. Also, Sharp has guts. While some coaches might not discipline their best player, or would rather overlook their star stepping out of line, Sharp won't. She suspended Plenette Pierson, her best player, for all but four games last season. And a year later, Pierson is a better person for it.

PAT SUMMITT, TENNESSEE

Career record: 805-161 in 29 seasons. Credentials: Winningest coach in women's college basketball history is sixth coach (in men's or women's hoops) to reach 800-win plateau; Naismith Coach of the Century and Hall of Famer has won six NCAA titles, second only to John Wooden; surpassed Wooden with 13th Final Four appearance last March; produced 11 Olympians and 16 All-Americans.

	Pat Summitt is a Naismith Hall of Famer and six-time NCAA champion.

On Summitt: Summitt has set the standard in women's college basketball, and her demanding schedules are the biggest example of how she has influenced the game. These days, every team across the nation tries to put together a tough nonconference schedule. Summitt did it first, and although she took some early lumps, her willingness to put it on the line has paid off. Her vision always has been long-term, on what happens in March, not what your record is heading into March. And now, teams all over the country are embracing that philosophy.

Summitt is a tremendous leader. Though she is strict, she has softened over the years to complement the makeup of today's athletes. But she hasn't compromised her disciplinarian ways. She has butted heads with some of her best players, and they have performed for her. Kids want to play for her because they know they will become better players, and that even when they leave Knoxville, they will still flourish because Summitt taught them how to better play the game, not just her system.

Summitt is a great tactician and hands-on coach. She holds great practices -- her break-down drills are among the best. Another one of her greatest assets as a coach is her willingness to learn and change with the times. Whether it's Billie Moore, John Wooden, Phil Jackson or Harry Paretta, she doesn't think twice about going out and asking for input or new ideas. Never mind that she has won six titles. She knows she doesn't have all the answers. She wants to learn more. She's open-minded to change and not too worried about who the credit goes to.

Most impressed with: Her consistency. It never wavers. She was a highly motivated player at Tennessee-Martin and at the international level, and she's just as tenacious of a coach. And whether you love her, hate her, are jealous of her or her biggest supporter, you have to recognize and appreciate Summitt's coaching. All she does is win.

TARA VanDERVEER, STANFORD

Career record: 564-158 in 24 seasons. Credentials: Two-time NCAA champion (1990 and '92) has led Stanford to five Final Four appearances and 10 Pac-10 titles; notched five 30-win seasons and produced two Naismith Players of the Year and six Kodak All-Americans; three-time national coach of the year guided Team USA to a 66-0 mark in 1995-96, which included a gold medal at the Atlanta Olympics.

	Tara VanDerveer won NCAA titles in 1990 and '92.

On VanDerveer: Like all the other coaches on this list, VanDerveer is very structured and fundamental and very tough on defense. And while VanDerveer has the benefit of not only getting great athletes who are passionate for the game, but also brilliant athletes who are very driven in the classroom as well.

VanDerveer is a tremendous coach. She's very detailed and organized, and also very dedicated. She lives and breathes the game and is always in the gym trying to make it better. She is one of sport's greatest teachers.

Most impressed by: Her loyalty. VanDerveer is sort of quiet and introverted, but made a big statement in hiring Marianne Stanley a few years back when no one else had the guts to do it. But VanDerveer respected Stanley's ability, thought she could help the Cardinal and therefore hired her. And look where Stanley is today.

Among those also considered: Ceal Barry, Gary Blair, Doug Bruno, Joe Ciampi, Bill Fennelly, Jim Foster, Theresa Grentz, Sue Gunter, Sylvia Hatchell, Andy Landers, Wendy Larry, Rick Moody, Rene Portland, Debbie Ryan, C. Vivian Stringer, Marian Washington, Kay Yow.

Nancy Lieberman, an ESPN analyst and Hall of Famer, is a regular contributor to ESPN.com's women's basketball coverage. Contact her at www.nancylieberman.com.