Iowa coach Lisa Bluder announced her retirement on Monday, and associate head coach Jan Jensen was named her successor.
Bluder, 63, spent 24 of her 34 seasons as a Division I head coach at Iowa. She spent a decade at Drake before taking over the Hawkeyes ahead of the 2000-01 season.
Bluder guided the Hawkeyes to 18 NCAA Tournament appearances, most recently a pair of Final Four trips in consecutive years. Iowa lost to South Carolina 87-75 in the national championship game last month, Bluder’s last game on the sidelines.
Bluder is the all-time winningest coach in Big Ten history with an overall record of 528-254. Her overall mark is 716-359.
“It has been the honor of my career to be a part of the Iowa Hawkeye family, and to lead a women’s basketball program filled with so many talented and remarkable young women, who have gone on to do great things in their careers and, more importantly, in their lives,” Bluder wrote in a letter to the Iowa community. “There is no denying that this past season was incredible for so many reasons, and we could not have accomplished our achievements without all of you.
“After the season ended, I spent time with our student-athletes and coaches reviewing the season and preparing those moving on for what comes next. With that also came personal contemplation about what this journey has meant to me, how to best champion this program, and what the future looks like for my family and me. After then taking some time away with my husband, David, it became clear to me that I am ready to step aside.”
Bluder’s retirement comes after Iowa legend Caitlin Clark concluded her record-breaking career with the program and went No. 1 overall to the Indiana Fever in the WNBA draft. Clark will make her WNBA debut on Tuesday.
Clark reacted to the news on Monday by writing of Bluder on X, “Simply no one better at building a team. Thank you for believing in me more than anyone. Enjoy retirement, coach. Very much deserved.”
Simply no one better at building a team… Thank you for believing in me more than anyone . Enjoy retirement, coach. Very much deserved https://t.co/XnxmteSCTq
— Caitlin Clark (@CaitlinClark22) May 13, 2024
Clark led the country in scoring and assists in 2023-24, and Iowa began to reload by signing Villanova transfer Lucy Olsen, the No. 3 scorer in Division I.
Iowa will aim for continuity by handing the reins to Jensen, an Iowa native who played for Bluder at Drake and worked on Bluder’s staffs at Drake and Iowa since 1993. She followed Bluder to Iowa in 2000 and has been the program’s associate head coach ever since.
“I have been so blessed to have enjoyed an incredible ride with Lisa,” Jensen said in a statement. “That ride started when I was her player and continued for 33 years as I had the privilege to work alongside of her. I can’t thank Lisa enough for her mentorship, leadership and most of all her friendship.
“I am now beyond elated to begin my new role and want to thank President (Barbara J.) Wilson and (athletic director Beth Goetz) for the opportunity to lead this program. I truly love The University of Iowa and I am profoundly honored and excited to continue building on our success. The support we have in every realm from our administration, donors, alumni and fans is unmatched and I am so proud to be a part of this special university.”
Clark wrote on X of Jensen, “The only option there ever was!!! You deserve this more than anyone. Can’t wait to watch you lead this program!!!”
–Field Level Media
