“I’m so happy for ya”: Former Iowa HC Lisa Bluder sheds tears of joy before Jan Jensen’s introductory press conference.

Former Iowa HC Lisa Bluder and Jan Jensen

In lockstep with Lisa Bluder’s retirement, Jan Jensen was promoted as the new coach of the Iowa Hawkeyes on Monday.

The introductory news conference was held on Wednesday, and the Hawkeyes released a video documenting the entire day on Instagram on Thursday.

Before Jensen left for the presser, she greeted the former coach. An emotional Bluder encouraged the new coach and said:

“Tears of joy, friend. I’m happy for ya. You got this.”

She also added a “go get it” twice as Jensen was making her way to the news conference.

During her tenure as the associate head coach, Jan Jensen coached the Hawkeyes to 22 postseason appearances, including 18 NCAA tournaments. Iowa also had back-to-back Final Four and national championship game appearances (in 2023 and 2024). Jensen has been a part of leading Iowa to five Big Ten Tournament titles, including the past three.

Jan Jensen was an incredible recruiter who played a key role in signing Megan Gustafson and Caitlin Clark to the Hawkeyes. She also coached the post players and was instrumental in players like Monika Czinano and others reaching their full potential.

Jan Jensen thanks Lisa Bluder for giving her a chance at a young age

Jan Jensen and Lisa Bluder’s connection goes back to Jensen’s senior year in 1991 with the Drake Bulldogs. This was the season when Bluder joined the program after six years at St. Ambrose.

After Jensen’s graduation, she played internationally for two years before returning to Drake as an assistant coach under Bluder.

“I especially want to thank Lisa Bluder,” Jensen said. “She’s great in every realm. Thank you for everything you’ve done for this program. Thanks for letting me be part of the ride here, and thanks for coaching me when I was at Drake and letting me be a part of that ride there and taking a chance on me at a young, young age.

“Thanks for everything you’ve done for women’s basketball. You’ve impacted it so, so incredibly. I want to thank you for how you have impacted me and for kind of being part of the plan all those years ago and for believing in me, preparing me, helping me fan this dream and now to make it a reality. Thank you, and I love you.”

When Lisa Bluder was offered a job at Iowa in 2000, she requested Jan Jensen to join her. Jensen hesitated as she was being offered the coach job at Drake. However, the Kimballton, Iowa, native took a chance.

Jan Jensen’s biggest job coming next year is to live up to the great expectations of the post-Caitlin Clark Hawkeyes era.