The decorated and winningest Big Ten head coach, Lisa Bluder, who led the Iowa Hawkeyes for 24 years, has reportedly announced her retirement. Bluder started her coaching journey at St. Ambrose University and was their head coach from 1984 to 1990.
After 32 years of coaching and 24 seasons at Iowa, Lisa Bluder has announced her retirement.
• 884 victories
• 3x Big Ten COTY
• 2 NCAA Final Fours
• 5 Big Ten tournament championships
• 2 Big Ten regular season championships
• All-time winningest coach in Iowa history pic.twitter.com/e2qiMUp0BI— Front Office Sports (@FOS) May 13, 2024
Basketball Icon.
Legendary Leader.
All-Time Great.Lisa Bluder announces retirement.#Hawkeyes pic.twitter.com/zaCehITUu3
— Iowa Women's Basketball (@IowaWBB) May 13, 2024
Her next destination was Drake University, where she guided the Drake Bulldogs Women’s Basketball team from 1990 to 2000. Bluder with St. Ambrose achieved great feats, as her record was 169-36, and she guided the squad to four consecutive national tournaments.
Along with this, they made two appearances in the Final Four. Subsequently, the squad was ranked No. 1 in 1990 under Bluder and she won NAIA Converse Coach of the Year award. During her tenure with Drake, she recorded 187-106 in 10 seasons.
No better leader 🫶
Thank you, Coach Bluder! #Hawkeyes pic.twitter.com/cXvl8KF1G4
— Iowa Women's Basketball (@IowaWBB) May 13, 2024
Dear Hawkeye Nation…
A letter from Lisa Bluder 📝⤵️#Hawkeyes
— Iowa Women's Basketball (@IowaWBB) May 13, 2024
With the Iowa Hawkeyes, Bluder went on to win multiple accolades. The Hawkeyes, under Bluder, won five Big Ten Tournament championships, eighteen appearances in the NCAA Tournament. The Iowa native, won three Big Ten Coach of the Year awards as well. In 2019, Bluder also won the Naismith College Coach of the Year accolade.
The prominent head coach shared her thoughts, according to University of Iowa Athletics, Hawkeyes Sports, “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. 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.
There is never an ideal time to retire and I am sure this fall that I will miss the games, the practices, the road trips, the atmosphere, the tremendous fans and, most importantly, the players. But my belief in the foundation of this program, knowing that success is now an unrelenting component of women’s basketball at the University of Iowa gives me comfort as I transition to become the program’s biggest champion. I want to thank each and every young woman who believed in our program and in our values for nearly a quarter of a century, and who proudly wore the Black & Gold.”
In great hands 🫶@goiowa x #Hawkeyes pic.twitter.com/QaqhhyWmb6
— Iowa Women's Basketball (@IowaWBB) May 13, 2024
Introducing our next head coach, Jan Jensen. @goiowa x #Hawkeyes pic.twitter.com/e7DeuUW28q
— Iowa Women's Basketball (@IowaWBB) May 13, 2024
Her position will be taken over by assistant head coach Jan Jensen, who served as Bluder’s assistant during her time with Iowa. Jensen also served as an assistant head coach at Drake under Bluder.
Her position will be taken over by assistant head coach Jan Jensen, who served as Bluder’s assistant during her time with Iowa. Jensen also served as an assistant head coach at Drake under Bluder. She mentions, “I have been so blessed to have enjoyed an incredible ride with Lisa. 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 so proud of all we accomplished and grateful for all the memories we created. I am now beyond elated to begin my new role and want to thank President Wilson and Beth 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.”
The first pick in WNBA 2024 Draft, Caitlin Clark, also expressed her heartfelt message, stating, “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
The only option there ever was!!!😁 You deserve this more than anyone💛 Can’t wait to watch you lead this program!!! https://t.co/Q94oSF1rKv
— Caitlin Clark (@CaitlinClark22) May 13, 2024
Clark, regarding Jensen, the new head coach of the Iowa Hawkeyes, shared, “The only option there ever was!!! You deserve this more than anyone Can’t wait to watch you lead this program!!!”
Extremely grateful to have been coached by Bluder & I’m so happy for her. If you know Bluder, you know that wasn’t an easy decision for her.
I am even more excited about @goiowa to take over this amazing program. Iowa women’s basketball is in great hands. Go hawks!! https://t.co/x6Ohx6pxVO
— Kate Martin (@kate_martin22) May 13, 2024
Kate Martin, former Iowa talent, also shared her message for Bluder stating, “Extremely grateful to have been coached by Bluder & I’m so happy for her. If you know Bluder, you know that wasn’t an easy decision for her.
I am even more excited about @goiowa to take over this amazing program. Iowa women’s basketball is in great hands. Go hawks!!”
In the last season, the Hawkeyes were impressively standing at 34-5, but eventually lost to the South Carolina Gamecocks in the NCAA Championship match.
