Iowa coach Lisa Bluder retires, longtime assistant Jan Jensen to take over following Caitlin Clark's departure

Iowa women's basketball coach Lisa Bluder retires after 24 seasons, assistant Jan Jensen to take over. Bluder led Hawkeyes to success.

Iowa women's basketball coach Lisa Bluder recently announced her retirement after an illustrious 24-year career coaching the Hawkeyes. The news was shared on social media, with longtime assistant Jan Jensen set to take over as head coach.

Bluder, 63, leaves behind a legacy of success, leading Iowa to 18 NCAA tournament appearances and earning the Naismith Coach of the Year award in 2018-19. Under her guidance, the Hawkeyes experienced a renaissance with star player Caitlin Clark, reaching four consecutive NCAA tournaments and making back-to-back appearances in the national championship game.

Clark, who recently left the program to join the WNBA's Indiana Fever as the first overall pick in the draft, congratulated Bluder on her retirement. The Hawkeyes enjoyed consistent success under Bluder, boasting a winning record in nearly every season and winning at least 20 games in the last eight.

Bluder's coaching career began at Drake, where she led the Bulldogs to multiple NCAA tournament appearances before taking over at Iowa in 2000. With a combined record of 884-396, she retires as the 10th-winningest coach in women's college basketball history. Jensen, who played for Bluder at Drake and has been her associate head coach for the past 20 seasons, will now step into the head coaching role.

Jensen's expertise in recruiting has been crucial to Iowa's success, and she is poised to continue the program's winning tradition. The transition marks the end of an era for Iowa women's basketball, but with Jensen at the helm, the future looks bright for the Hawkeyes.

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