SAD NEWS: lowa Women’s Basketball head coach has angrily terminated his contract due to a serious
SAD NEWS: The head coach of Iowa Women’s Basketball has furiously canceled his contract because of a major
IOWA CITY Kate Martin was celebrating getting added to the Las Vegas Aces roster when she received the news over a Zoom conversation.
Bluder unexpectedly announced her resignation as the women’s basketball coach at the University of Iowa on Monday afternoon.
“I have decided to step down from leading the Iowa women’s basketball team after 24 memorable years,” Bluder said in a statement on Monday. “It is with a range of emotions that I share today,” Bluder said.
“I told President (Barbara) Wilson and Beth Goetz, the athletics director, about my decision. I appreciate their unwavering support and have offered to help them in any way going forward.”
Bluder, sixty-three, finishes her coaching career with an 884-396 record over forty years, with 528-254 at Iowa.
“Leading a women’s basketball program with so many gifted and extraordinary young women who have gone on to do great things in their careers and, more importantly, in their lives, has been the honor of my career,” Bluder remarked. “It has been the part of the Iowa Hawkeye family.”
“I reviewed the season with our student-athletes and coaches after it ended and helped those who were moving on get ready for the next step. Along with that came introspection about what this journey meant to me, how I could best support this initiative, and what my family’s and my future held. I realized I was ready to stand down after spending some time away from my husband, David.
Bluder, who left Iowa in the height of her career, earned $1.45 million in 2023. The Hawkeyes’ final two seasons have both concluded in the NCAA tournament championship game.
Martin remarked, “I’m stunned.” However, I’m quite pleased for her. She has had a fantastic career.
“Shocked,” remarked Martin. Others also done so.
“I wondered if something was wrong when I noticed I had a missed call from Bluder.”
Bluder, a Marion native, attended the University of Northern Iowa after earning his diploma from Linn-Mar High School in 1979.
In just her first season as a coach, St. Ambrose University went 34-1 in her final season of 1989–1990. She started her coaching career there in 1984.
She started working at Drake University in 1990. The Missouri Valley Conference saw three Bulldog championships.
Jensen’s final year at Drake fell during Bluder’s first year there.
The following year, Jensen and Jenni Fitzgerald worked for Bluder at Drake, and in 2000, they moved to Iowa City with her.
“I owe Lisa a debt of gratitude for her friendship, leadership, and mentoring. I am really happy with everything we managed to do and appreciative of the memories we made.
Jensen has served as Bluder’s primary post developer and recruiter. She now ascends to the podium’s top.
“I adore Jan immensely,” Gustafson declared. “She is prepared for this opportunity and deserves it.”
After the program began to deteriorate near the end of Angie Lee’s term, the Bluder era started in 2000.
In Bluder’s first season (2000–01), Iowa won the Big Ten tournament with a 21–10 record.
The program reached unthinkable heights in the last two seasons, but that team was the first of 18 Iowa teams to make it to the NCAA tournament.
In 2020, Bluder signed five-star talent Caitlin Clark from Dowling High School in West Des Moines. The COVID-19 pandemic forced them to perform in front of small audiences for their first season together.
Thousands of fans came back as soon as they could. Both at home and away from home during the 2023–24 season, sellout crowds witnessed the games.
Iowa advanced to the 2023 Final Four in Dallas, where they lost to LSU 102-85 in the title game after shocking undefeated South Carolina 77-73 in the quarterfinals.
Following the announcement on Monday, Bluder’s former teammates commemorated her career:
Megan Gustafson, a 2019 graduate
“It is impossible for me to sum up everything she has meant to me in one little interview. Everyone who has ever played for her will agree when they remark, “I will always be grateful to her.”
Kathleen Doyle, a 2020 graduate
“I believed that Coach Bluder would lead Iowa for the rest of my life.” She is Iowa basketball to me. She places a high importance on winning, but even more so on learning lessons off the court and creating strong, self-assured female leaders. I will always be appreciative of those teachings.
Monika Czinano (2023-02-22)
“I’m overjoyed for her. She has undoubtedly been considering the advantages and disadvantages of this for some time. She has had an incredible influence on me. I felt cared for at Iowa when I was around Coach Bluder.
Ally Disterhoft, a 2017 graduate
“This is amazing news for two amazing individuals. In addition to Coach Bluder leaving on such a good note, everyone benefits from Coach Jensen stepping in and getting this chance. Playing for Coach Bluder was a blast. She has served as a great inspiration to many. I gained a great deal of life experience.
Jamie Printy Brandt, a 2013 graduate
“It was one of the best experiences of my life to play under Coach Bluder. For who I am now, I owe her a great deal. I’m proud of what she has accomplished, and she is undoubtedly among the greatest to have ever done it.
