Here is all you need to know about Jan Jensen, the new Iowa basketball coach along with her career, bio, wife, family and more
Earlier this week, Lisa Bluder announced her departure as head coach of the University of Iowa women’s basketball team.
Following five Big Ten tournament titles, two trips to the national championship game, and the development of one of the best players the sport has ever seen in Caitlin Clark, Bluder leaves the Hawkeyes.
The search for Bluder’s successor did not take Iowa long or far. Shortly after Bluder announced her departure, the Hawkeyes announced that Jan Jensen will take over as the sixth head coach of the team.
Who is Jan Jensen new Iowa Hawkeyes women’s basketball head coach, bio, age, height, family, wife and salary
Jan Jensen got to coach @IowaWBB for a game during its 2023 European trip.
The longtime associate head coach led the Hawkeyes to victory.
Our cameras take you behind the scenes of the game in Croatia. 👇#B1GWBball pic.twitter.com/nzsrq7am9A
— Big Ten Network (@BigTenNetwork) May 14, 2024
Who is Jan Jensen?
55 year old Jan Jensen is a former American basketball player and college basketball coach who is now the head coach of Iowa Hawkeyes women’s basketball.
Jan Jensen. Position: Forward. 5-10 (178cm). School: Drake (Women). 1990-91 MVC POY; 3x All-MVC.
While her salary at Iowa isn’t known yet, Lisa Bluder was paid $1.4 million annually.
A look at Jan Jensen’s career so far
Jan Jenson used to be a great player. During the 1990–91 Drake season, Jensen led the nation in scoring with 29.6 points per game. After winning the MVP title in the Gateway Conference, Jensen was chosen for the women’s basketball team of the Missouri Valley Conference All-Centennial Team. Drake retired the number thirteen on her jersey.
Jensen, a native of Kimballton, Iowa, played for Drake University under Bluder before becoming an assistant coach in 1993. Since Bluder’s 2000 hiring in Iowa, Jensen has also resided in Iowa City. After Jensen was benched next to Bluder from 2000 to 2024, Iowa won two Big Ten regular season titles and advanced to eighteen NCAA tournaments.
Jensen had a key role in bringing in Megan Gustafson, the 2019 National Player of the Year, and Clark. In addition, she assisted Monika Czinano in creating four All-Big Ten teams. Jensen received recognition from the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association as the 2023 Assistant Coach of the Year.
A look at Jan Jensen’s family
Jensen’s grandma, Dorcas Andersen, was nicknamed “Lottie” due to her impressive basketball point totals. Her niece Kate Martin now-former Iowa standout who plays with the Las Vegas Aces. She is married to Julie Fitzpatrick, sister of Martin’s mother.