One of the staples for Iowa women’s basketball is getting her due praise as the nation’s finest.
Hawkeye associate head coach Jan Jensen was named the Division I recipient of the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association’s national Assistant Coach of the Year. The Assistant Coach of the Year award originated in 2016 and is presented annually.
Jensen is in her 23rd season with the Iowa women’s basketball program and her 19th as associate head coach. She serves as the Hawkeyes’ recruiting coordinator and works with the post players.
Under her tutelage, Monika Czinano has been named a Lisa Leslie Center of the Year finalist. Czinano is averaging 17.5 points, 6.6 rebounds and 1.4 assists per game while shooting 67.5% from the floor.
Czinano was a unanimous first-team All-Big Ten selection. Freshman big Hannah Stuelke has also impressed this season, averaging 7.0 points and 4.2 rebounds per contest while shooting 61.1% from the floor. The 6-foot-2 freshman from Cedar Rapids was named the Big Ten’s Sixth Player of the Year.
Jensen joins the following national Assistant Coach of the Year award winners: Ashland University’s Jenna Kotas in Division II, Moravian University’s Amy Endler in Division III, Lewis-Clark State College’s Caelyn Orlandi in NAIA, Kirkwood Community College’s Jen Frances in the two-year college ranks and Denver East High School’s Vanessa Espinoza at the high school level.
Per the WBCA press release:
WBCA Assistant Coach of the Year is presented to one associate head coach or assistant coach in each membership division who demonstrates commitment to their program, their student-athletes and their head coach; their impact coaching on court; their mentorship and impact on other coaches; and their professional manner and attitude. – WBCA.
WBCA Executive Director Danielle Donehew expounded on why these coaches were selected.
“The role of an assistant coach is vital in reinforcing a positive student-athlete environment with encouragement, excellence, structure, security, support and integrity. The WBCA is proud to honor these individuals as our Assistant Coaches of the Year in their respective divisions of membership. Each coach was selected by vote of their peers, and the WBCA celebrates and applauds their lasting commitment to use our game as a platform to positively impact their student-athletes, institutions and communities,” Donehew said.
Iowa has advanced to the Sweet 16 where it will meet No. 6 seed Colorado on Friday at 6:30 p.m. CT on ESPN from Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle, Wash. The Buffaloes toppled third-seeded Duke, 61-53, in overtime to advance.
The other half of the Seattle 4 Region’s Sweet 16 features No. 8 seed Ole Miss versus No. 5 seed Louisville.
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