Lisa Bluder, Iowa’s women’s basketball coach, announced her retirement on Monday after 24 years in charge of the Hawkeyes and 40 seasons in total, including two national title game appearances. Bluder, 63, is the most successful women’s basketball coach in Big Ten history.
Jan Jensen, Bluder’s longtime assistant at Iowa, will take over as head coach. Jensen previously served as Bluder’s assistant at Drake after playing for him with the Bulldogs.
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Bluder, an Iowa native who played at Northern Iowa, concluded his coaching career with an 884–396 record. She previously served as head coach at St. Ambrose (169–36 in six seasons) and Drake (187–106 in ten seasons) before taking over at Iowa in 2000.
Bluder had a 528-254 record with the Hawkeyes, including five Big Ten tournament titles. Bluder led Iowa to 18 NCAA tournament berths over the course of her 24 seasons and was named Big Ten coach of the year three times. She finished 263-144 in Big Ten games.
“It has been the honor of my career to be a part of the Iowa Hawkeye family,” Bluder said in a statement posted by Iowa and addressed to fans. “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.”
The Hawkeyes went 34-5 last season behind standout guard Caitlin Clark, who was the No. 1 choice in April’s WNBA draft and will play in the Indiana Fever’s season opening Tuesday against Connecticut. The Hawkeyes fell to South Carolina in the national championship game in Cleveland. Iowa fell to LSU in the 2023 championship game in Dallas. The Hawkeyes have won the past three Big Ten tournament championships.
Clark became the all-time top scorer in Division I basketball, men’s or women’s, as a senior this season, scoring 3,951. Clark was the national player of the year for the previous two seasons.
“There’s simply no one better at team building,” Clark remarked in a post on X. “I am grateful to you for believing in me more than anyone. Enjoy your retirement, Coach. Very well deserved.
Bluder stated that, as she began preparing for the offseason, she decided to retire.
“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,” said Bluder. “That also prompted personal reflection on what this trip has meant to me, how to effectively promote this program, and what the future holds for my family and me. After spending time away with my spouse, David, I realized I was ready to move aside.
“There is never a good time to retire, and I am certain that this autumn I will miss the games, practices, road trips, atmosphere, incredible fans, and, most importantly, the players. But my conviction in the program’s foundation, knowing that success is now an unwavering component of women’s basketball at the University of Iowa, provides me peace as I prepare to become the program’s greatest champion.”
