Iowa Hawkeyes’ Lisa Bluder among finalists for the Naismith Trophy’s Coach of the Year award

Lisa Bluder has the Hawkeyes on the rise right now. Her coaching has her among finalists for the Naismith Trophy’s Coach of the Year award.

A Big Ten Tournament title, a 26-6 mark on the season, and a current No. 2 ranking in the AP Top 25 is quite the 2022-23 resume for Iowa Hawkeyes women’s basketball head coach Lisa Bluder.

Heading into the NCAA Tournament with the opportunity to host the first two rounds at home in Carver Hawkeye Arena is just the start of the goal that Bluder set out for her team this season. With all of these goals, the recognition has begun as she has been named as one of ten finalists for the Naismith Trophy. Bluder was the recipient of this award in 2019.

The Naismith Women’s College Coach of the Year Award was created in 1987 and is given out annually to the best basketball coach after a vote conducted by Atlanta Tipoff Club’s Board of Selectors.

Bluder has a career record of 463-242 (.657) as the head coach of the Hawkeyes and an outstanding overall record of 819-384 (.681). She is also one of five active coaches to have more than 815 wins, one of 14 women’s coaches to ever reach that mark, and one of just 25 coaches (men’s or women’s basketball) to get to 815 wins.

Also up for the award from the Big Ten is Indiana Hoosiers head coach Teri Moren. She led Indiana to a regular season Big Ten title, a 27-3 overall record, and a current AP Top 25 ranking of No. 3 in the nation.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=46]

[mm-video type=playlist id=01fvdcxf97xrgg1awc player_id=01eqbvp13nn1gy6hd4 image=]

Contact/Follow us @HawkeyesWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Iowa news, notes, and opinions.

Follow Riley on Twitter: @rileydonald7