After 24 years leading the Iowa women’s basketball team, Lisa Bluder has announced her retirement. Her longtime assistant, Jan Jensen, will take over as head coach. Bluder retires as the all-time Big Ten coaching wins leader with a 528-254 record at Iowa, including a 65-12 record in the past two years. She was praised for her ability to build a team and her role in developing superstar Caitlin Clark.
Jensen, who has been with Bluder for a total of 24 years at Iowa and eight at Drake, is excited to begin her first head coaching job. Under Bluder’s leadership, the Hawkeyes won two shared Big Ten regular-season championships, five conference tournament titles, and made 18 NCAA Tournament appearances. The arrival of Clark, with Jensen as her primary recruiter, elevated the program and raised the profile of women’s basketball in the US.
Clark, who became the NCAA Division I career scoring leader for both men and women, was the No. 1 pick in the WNBA draft by the Indiana Fever. During her time at Iowa, the team made it to two NCAA championship games but fell short both times. Former player Kate Martin expressed shock at Bluder’s retirement but emphasized that she deserves a break after dedicating so many years to the program.
Bluder’s retirement marks the end of an era for Iowa women’s basketball, but Jensen is expected to continue the legacy built by her predecessor. With a strong foundation established by Bluder, Jensen is poised to lead the team into a new era of success.
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