Tag: Jan Jensen

Jan Jensen praises Addison O’Grady’s stellar start to the season

Addison O’Grady is blossoming.

Following Iowa women’s basketball’s 86-73 win over Drake on Sunday from the Knapp Center in Des Moines, Iowa, Hawkeyes head coach Jan Jensen praised the confident start to the season from senior center Addison O’Grady. The 6-foot-4 big has taken on the starting role for Iowa in stride.

Thrust into a starting role for the Hawkeyes, O’Grady has been terrific. The Aurora, Colo., product is currently averaging 16.8 points, 4.8 rebounds and 1.8 blocks per game while shooting 73.2% from the field and 77.8% from the charity stripe.

O’Grady led the Hawkeyes’ offense on Sunday, finishing with 27 points, 10 rebounds, three blocks, and one assist in 33 minutes played vs. Drake while shooting 13-for-21 from the field. Highlighting O’Grady’s game was her 14-point first quarter on a perfect 7-for-7 from the field.

Jensen said O’Grady helped exploit Drake’s small ball actions.

“I think if you look back in this series, they [Drake] play that five out. I call it small ball, and it’s really good, and it’s hard if you have a traditional center, Jensen said. “…But that inside presence, if you can stay pretty efficient with how you score, you can counter all of their small ball action.

“So we were hopeful that Addie was going to have a game, but I try not to put that much pressure and expectation because this is the first time she’s really wearing that role. Wearing the go-to, wearing ‘Hey, we’re going to go into Addie.’ And I was really pleased.”

Lily Smith/The Register / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

With O’Grady’s fast start to the season, Jensen said the senior is starting to shoulder expectations that mirror those of great Hawkeye centers from the past such as Megan Gustafson and Monika Czinano.

“I think the biggest compliment I can give her is I’m now starting to have Czinano and Gustafson expectations. I was kind of cranky at a couple of things she did out there, and that means that the expectations are growing, but I only know they’re growing because I know she can do it,” Jensen said.

With a neutral-site contest against Kansas next up on the Hawkeyes’ docket from Sanford Pentagon in Sioux Falls, S.D., on Wednesday, Jensen will be looking for O’Grady to continue her stellar performance against the Jayhawks.

Tipoff against KU is scheduled for 6 p.m. CT and will be broadcast on the Big Ten Network and on the Hawkeye Radio Network.

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Jan Jensen among ESPN’s 2024-25 coaches to watch

Iowa head women’s basketball coach Jan Jensen made her way onto ESPN’s preseason women’s college basketball coaches to watch.

Iowa women’s basketball has officially begun this new era of Hawkeye hoops.

After spending 24 seasons coaching alongside Lisa Bluder at Iowa, Jan Jensen takes over for her first season as the Hawkeyes’ head coach.

Jensen inherits a roster that features headliners in senior guards Lucy Olsen and Sydney Affolter along with junior forward Hannah Stuelke.

Affolter and Stuelke have been key cogs over the past two seasons as Iowa marched its way to consecutive Final Fours and national championship games. Meanwhile, Olsen comes over as a transfer from Villanova after she ranked third nationally in scoring last season with 23.3 points per game.

In addition to that trio, Iowa also returns senior center Addison O’Grady, senior guard Kylie Feuerbach and junior guard Taylor McCabe to its rotation.

The Hawkeyes also signed one of the country’s top recruiting classes last year. Iowa inked four ESPN top-100 players in guards Aaliyah Guyton, Teagan Mallegni and Taylor Stremlow and in center Ava Heiden.

Though superstar Caitlin Clark and longtime starters Kate Martin and Gabbie Marshall have all moved on, Jensen still possesses what’s regarded as one of the Big Ten’s better rosters in her first season at the helm.

In part of its preview for the 2024-25 women’s college basketball season, ESPN took a look at 12 women’s college basketball coaches to watch.

Naturally, Jensen’s name was on that list. Jensen joined Kentucky‘s Kenny Brooks, Tennessee‘s Kim Caldwell, Miami’s Tricia Cullop, Virginia Tech’s Megan Duffy, Stanford’s Kate Paye and Clemson‘s Shawn Poppie within ESPN’s “will they be hits?” category.

Jensen was with Bluder every step of the way for nearly a quarter-century at Iowa and played a big role in every part of the program. Jensen is especially well-regarded for developing post players. With Caitlin Clark, Kate Martin and Gabbie Marshall having moved on, the Hawkeyes will lean on the experience of players such as Hannah Stuelke and Sydney Affolter. The way Iowa plays shouldn’t change that much. – Michael Voepel, ESPN.

In its 91-73 season-opening win over Northern Illinois, Iowa took 71 shots and knocked down 52.1% of them. The Hawkeyes assisted on 22 of their 37 made field goals.

Iowa connected on just 9-of-29 3-point tries.

All five Hawkeye starters finished in double-figures. Iowa was led by Olsen’s 19 points on 9-of-17 shooting. The 5-foot-10 guard also added seven assists and four rebounds.

Stuelke began her season with 11 points on 4-of-6 shooting, six rebounds, two assists and two steals.

One of the highlights for Iowa was the combination of Feuerbach and McCabe. That pairing combined to knock down 7-of-16 from beyond the arc as they scored 25 in tandem.

O’Grady added 12 points and a pair of blocks. Mallegni was Iowa’s other double-figure scorer off the bench. The 6-foot-1 frosh added 14 points.

Iowa (1-0) returns to action on Sunday against Virginia Tech at 4:30 p.m. CT on ESPN2 in the Ally Tipoff from Charlotte, N.C.

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Jan Jensen announces pair of assistant coach hires

Jan Jensen announced the addition of two new staff members to Iowa women’s basketball.

Iowa head women’s basketball coach Jan Jensen announced a pair of additions to her Hawkeye staff on Wednesday.

Randi Henderson and Sean Sullivan have both been hired as new staff members for Iowa women’s basketball. Henderson will serve as an assistant coach while Sullivan will serve as an assistant coach and general manager. Both are UI graduates.

Henderson spent the last seven seasons at WashU in St. Louis as the head women’s basketball coach. Henderson’s teams went 103-54 (.656) with four NCAA Tournament appearances. She guided the Bears to four top three finishes in the University Athletic Association in seven seasons.

WashU and the Bears won the UAA title during the 2018-19 season after posting a 13-1 conference record. Henderson earned Central Region Coach of the Year honors from D3hoops.com for her efforts. She and her staff were also named the UAA Coaching Staff of the Year as well.

Prior to her time at WashU, Henderson spent two years as an assistant women’s basketball coach at Charlotte. Henderson also served as the head coach at Coe College (2006-15) and one season at University of Minnesota-Morris (2005-06).

Henderson was a three-year starter and team captain during her playing career with the Hawkeyes. She helped lead Iowa to a pair of NCAA Tournaments (1998, 2001) and to the 2001 Big Ten Tournament championship.

Sullivan arrives in Iowa City after spending time with North Carolina. In the 2021-22 and 2022-23 seasons, Sullivan served as the director of player personnel, development, and recruiting operations at North Carolina. Then, in the summer of 2023, Sullivan added the title of assistant coach.

Prior to UNC, Sullivan was the director of video for the women’s basketball program at Pitt for two seasons and director of scouting and digital technology with Penn State.

As an undergraduate at Iowa, Sullivan spent four years as a women’s basketball manager, then became the team’s video coordinator. He also spent a summer as video coordinator for USA Basketball, where he was part of the women’s squad that won silver at the 2015 Pan Am Games.

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Iowa women’s basketball offers rising class of 2028 forward Sydney Douglas

Sydney Douglas, a talented freshman-forward-to-be from California, is Jan Jensen’s first-ever offer as Hawkeye head coach.

After just a pair of weeks on the job, new Iowa head women’s basketball coach Jan Jensen made her first scholarship offer as the head Hawkeye.

Jensen and Iowa offered talented class of 2028 forward Sydney Douglas out of Los Angeles, Calif.

Just a freshman this coming fall, the 6-foot-6 forward looks like an obvious elite talent moving forward. Douglas’ combination of size, handles, shooting touch, and rim protection is truly unique. With the proper coaching and development, she should only keep getting better and better.

Douglas plays for the Cal Stars EYBL squad and she also just took part in the USA Basketball U17 National Team Trials.

“After a great conversation with Coach Jensen, I am blessed to receive an offer from Iowa women’s basketball! I am honored to be your first offer as a head coach. Thank you so much for believing in me!” Douglas wrote on X.

Here’s a look at some of Douglas’ recent highlights.

ProspectsNation.com’s was out at the USA Basketball U17 National Team Trials. ProspectsNation.com managing editor Chris Hansen included Douglas among his “Six In the Mix” from the USA Trials.

The knock on Douglas has been that she doesn’t want to mix it up inside even though she’s 6-foot-6.  Well she didn’t get that memo for the day.  She was versatile but was arguably the most physical inside presence across both of Friday’s sessions. – Hansen, ProspectsNation.com.

Douglas has plenty of time to figure all of that out. She will continue to get stronger and more polished.

Regardless of how this recruitment ultimately plays out, Douglas will always have a special distinction in Iowa City as the first-ever offer from new Iowa head women’s basketball coach Jan Jensen.

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Lisa Bluder, Jan Jensen comment on Iowa assistant coach Jenni Fitzgerald’s retirement

Coach Lisa Bluder and coach Jan Jensen commented on Jenni Fitzgerald’s retirement and her impact on the Hawkeyes.

One of the fixtures in Iowa City announced that she is stepping away from Iowa women’s basketball.

Iowa’s special assistant to the head coach, Jenni Fitzgerald, revealed that she is retiring after 24 seasons with the program. During her run with the Hawkeyes, Fitzgerald served four years as an associate head coach, 20 seasons as an assistant coach, and four seasons as an advisor.

Fitzgerald was a part of every staff former head coach Lisa Bluder put together in Iowa City. Prior to her stint with the Hawkeyes, Fitzgerald served alongside coach Bluder and current Iowa head coach Jan Jensen at Drake as well.

As the news broke, Bluder commented on Fitzgerald’s decision to retire.

“I have valued working alongside Jenni the past 32 years. She is an amazing strategist and coach, and I am thankful that I get to call her a friend for the rest of our lives!” Bluder said.

Coach Jensen took to X to comment on the big news.

“I’m beginning to think it’s me!” Jensen joked. “Seriously, no surprise. Jenni tried to head to the sun earlier, but we sweet talked her for a lil’ more time! What a ride! I love ya, Jenni! I was so blessed to play and coach with you. But, the biggest blessing is being best friends!”

Fitzgerald helped direct Iowa to 18 NCAA Tournaments, five Sweet 16s, three Elite Eights, two Final Fours and a pair of national championship game appearances.

The Hawkeyes also won five Big Ten Tournament championships, including each of the past three. Iowa also won two Big Ten regular season championships.

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Beth Goetz comments on hiring of new head Iowa women’s basketball coach Jan Jensen

Beth Goetz said Jan Jensen provides a “seamless passing of the baton.”

Wednesday was a special day to be a Hawkeye fan.

Iowa has a new head women’s basketball coach. Jan Jensen, 55, takes over the reins for the Hawkeyes.

Jensen shared her initial thoughts on taking over as the head coach after spending the past 24 seasons as an assistant and associate head coach.

Iowa athletic director Beth Goetz shared her thoughts on Jensen as she officially introduced her in a press conference on Wednesday.

Here’s what Goetz had to say about Jensen.

This is a seamless passing of the baton. The definition of a true teammate is someone who embraces their role, commits to honing their craft with the sole expectation to serve those around them and make the team better. Jan Jensen has learned from the best, positioned the program for unprecedented achievements, and has been an integral component over the past decades in making Iowa one of the most successful college women’s basketball programs in the country.

Jan’s journey has been entangled with the story of women’s basketball in the state of Iowa for as long as most can remember. It was in her genes as her grandmother played six on six in the 1920s. I think I’m getting this right, Coach, was nicknamed “Lottie” for scoring lots of points. Jan carried on that tradition with her name still etched in Iowa high school record books. She then went on to become the nation’s leading scorer, averaging 29.7 points per game and became an All-American at Drake University.

Her coaching career began after spending a year playing professionally in Germany, and she has never looked back. A presence on the court and off, known equally for the impact she makes on the game and for the authenticity and kindness she shares with all she meets, making them feel like lifelong friends.

A relationship builder, a relentless recruiter, a post whisperer, always ready for coffee and a conversation with an athlete, a champion on someone’s most difficult day and on their best. She has always been leading, always been mapping a path for success for your Hawkeyes.

She embodies the culture of Iowa women’s basketball that our loyal fans have come to know and love and will lead this new era of the program during a new era of college athletics with creativity, grit, passion and commitment needed to build champions on and off the court.

A head coach must have a deep understanding of the game, be a teacher at heart, understand how to build culture and inspire belief. They must be a role model, a motivator, and have an unrelenting competitive drive to be the best and bring out the best in all who touch their program.

Jan models daily what it means have a tireless work ethic, to lead with compassion and fiery passion and to be confident in who you are and how to go about chasing your dreams. Everything we needed in the next leader of this storied program was right here.

Under Jan’s leadership, you will continue to see a team that plays with heart, with unmatched toughness, and plays an exciting brand of basketball. We have a coach who welcomes high expectations, has an energy that inspires all those around her, and a contagious enthusiasm that will continue to flame the passion of her team and our fans across the state and beyond.

You’ve been all in here with us, and we are all in with you. How amazing is it when the easy choice is the right choice, and in Caitlin Clark’s words, the only choice.

It’s now my pleasure to officially welcome and introduce the University of Iowa P. Sue Beckwith Head Women’s Basketball Coach, Jan Jensen. – Iowa athletic director, Beth Goetz.

Jensen is certainly accomplished. Known like Goetz said as a “post whisperer” and as a sensational recruiter, Jensen was a part of the full duration of the Lisa Bluder era.

That featured Iowa advancing to 18 NCAA Tournaments, five Big Ten Tournament titles, a pair of Big Ten regular season championships, five Sweet 16 appearances, three Elite Eights and each of the past two Final Fours and national championship games.

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Lucy Olsen confirms commitment to Iowa women’s basketball, Jan Jensen

Lucy Olsen isn’t going anywhere.

Things have seen quite the shake up for the Iowa Hawkeyes women’s basketball team. While there was Lisa Bluder announcing her retirement and Jan Jensen being named the new head coach, there was also a focus on checking in with the roster and recruits.

One of the most high-profile transfers this offseason was former Villanova guard Lucy Olsen committing to the Iowa Hawkeyes. She is a pure scorer at guard and plugs into the starting lineup for Iowa.

While there is always some sense of worry about losing recruits or roster pieces after a coaching change, David Eickholt of Hawkeye Insider reported that Lucy Olsen has confirmed her commitment to the Hawkeyes.

Olsen may have needed to reassess her future with Iowa after the coaching change, but she reportedly thought it through and wants to become a Hawkeye.

This is an example of something Jan Jensen brings to this program as the newly named head coach. Jensen has always been a vibrant personality that gets to players. She is a high-level recruiter and has players that want to play for her.

Jensen’s next task is to keep Iowa’s recruiting classes together with Lisa Bluder stepping away. Taking advantage of Iowa’s deep, experienced, and talented roster in the upcoming season gives her a great opportunity to showcase that this program isn’t going anywhere.

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Caitlin Clark reacts to Iowa women’s basketball head coaching hire

Caitlin Clark approves.

The Iowa Hawkeyes women’s basketball team underwent a seismic change on Monday. Legendary Iowa head women’s basketball coach Lisa Bluder announced her retirement.

Naturally, that surprising news made waves among Iowa fans and the entire sports world.

The move came as a shock to many and promises to transform the women’s college basketball landscape. Bluder is among the legends of the game with the all-time pedigree she has put together at the University of Iowa.

The Hawkeyes clearly had a plan in place, however. The university immediately announced Jan Jensen, the former associate head coach, was assuming the head coaching position.

The move prompted wide-spread reactions, including from Iowa legend Caitlin Clark. She took to X to provide her unwavering support for Jensen.

“The only option there ever was! You deserve this more than anyone. Can’t wait to watch you lead this program,” Clark wrote on X.

Coach Jensen has been around coach Bluder for a long time. Jensen played for Bluder for one season at Drake when Bluder was hired. Jensen became the leading scorer in Division I that season, averaging 29.6 points per game.

Following her playing career, Jensen began her coaching career by joining Bluder at Drake in 1993. She proceeded to follow Bluder to Iowa in 2000 when the pair took over the program.

Jensen takes over the reins after assisting Iowa for the duration of Bluder’s tenure. A native of Kimballton, Iowa, Jensen will enter her 25th year as a Hawkeye coach during the 2024-25 women’s college basketball season.

Jensen helped guide Iowa to 22 postseason appearances, including 18 NCAA Tournaments. She has been a part of leading Iowa to five Big Ten Tournament titles, including the past three.

Jensen has also led Iowa to a pair of Big Ten regular season championships, back-to-back Final Four and national championship games (2023, 2024), three Elite Eight trips (2019, 2023, 2024) and to five Sweet 16 appearances (2015, 2019, 2021, 2023, 2024).

While at Iowa, Jensen was named the WBCA Assistant Coach of the Year in 2023.

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Jan Jensen named next head Iowa women’s basketball coach

There’s a new Head Hawkeye. Congrats, coach Jan Jensen!

Iowa fans, alumni and players didn’t have to wait long to find out who their next head women’s basketball coach would be.

Less than 20 minutes after legendary head Iowa women’s basketball coach Lisa Bluder announced her retirement, associate head coach Jan Jensen was named the Hawkeyes’ next head coach.

Jensen takes over the reins after serving as an assistant at Iowa for the duration of Bluder’s tenure. A native of Kimballton, Iowa, Jensen will enter her 25th year as a Hawkeye coach during the 2024-25 women’s college basketball season.

Known for her work as a tireless recruiter and as one of the top post coaches in women’s college basketball, Jensen has been well respected in coaching circles and beloved by her players for a long time.

“I have been so blessed to have enjoyed an incredible ride with Lisa. That ride started when I was her player and continued for 33 years as I had the privilege to work alongside of her. I can’t thank Lisa enough for her mentorship, leadership and most of all her friendship. I am so proud of all we accomplished and grateful for all the memories we created.

“I am now beyond elated to begin my new role and want to thank President Wilson and Beth (Goetz) for the opportunity to lead this program. I truly love The University of Iowa and I am profoundly honored and excited to continue building on our success. The support we have in every realm from our administration, donors, alumni and fans is unmatched and I am so proud to be a part of this special university,” Jensen said in the University of Iowa’s press release.

Jensen has helped guide Iowa to 22 postseason appearances, including 18 NCAA Tournaments. She has been a part of leading Iowa to five Big Ten Tournament titles, including the past three.

Jensen has also led Iowa to a pair of Big Ten regular-season championships, back-to-back Final Four and national championship games (2023, 2024), three Elite Eight trips (2019, 2023, 2024) and five Sweet 16 appearances (2015, 2019, 2021, 2023, 2024).

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Iowa women’s basketball, Caitlin Clark roll in NCAA Tournament opener over Illinois State

Caitlin Clark dropped 27 points in front of a sellout crowd at Carver-Hawkeye Arena as second-seeded Iowa rolled Illinois State, 98-58.

Illinois State jumped out to a quick 9-4 lead about four minutes into Friday afternoon’s NCAA Tournament opener after the Redbirds’ Juliunn Redmond hit a jumper. Second-seeded Iowa (24-7, 14-4 Big Ten) didn’t waste any more time after that bringing the sellout Carver-Hawkeye Arena crowd to its feet.

Sophomore guard and national player of the year candidate Caitlin Clark connected on her first of two made 3-pointers on the afternoon to pull Iowa back within a bucket, and, with that Clark make, the Hawkeyes were off and running. Illinois State (19-14) answered right back with a 3-pointer from Mary Crompton, but Iowa junior guard Gabbie Marshall drilled a trey of her own on the next trip down the floor.

Then, Hawkeye junior guard McKenna Warnock tied the game with a layup, Marshall gave Iowa its second lead of the afternoon on a 3-pointer with 3:41 remaining in the first quarter and the Hawkeyes ended the game’s opening quarter on a 17-6 scoring run.

After outscoring Illinois State 22-14 in the second quarter, the Hawkeyes really came alive in the third quarter. Iowa canned 8-of-10 3-point tries to balloon the lead to 74-47. When the 98-58 Hawkeyes’ victory was all said and done, Iowa had registered its most points in an NCAA Tournament game in program history.

The Hawkeyes shot 60 percent from the floor and 46.2 percent from 3-point range. Iowa also hit 20-of-21 from the free throw line to record the Hawkeyes’ best percentage finish from the charity stripe in an NCAA Tournament game.

Clark had another banner day, finishing with 27 points, 10 assists and six rebounds. It was the West Des Moine product’s 25th career double-double and 16th of the season. Iowa senior forward Monika Czinano added 18 points and was a perfect 6-for-6 shooting from the floor to go with a perfect 6-for-6 from the free throw line. Marshall and senior guard Tomi Taiwo each chipped in 13 points.

“I mean, obviously very excited about this game. Almost scoring 100 points out here tonight. We shot the ball well from all areas. Two, three, free throw line. I think we had 23 assists on 30, or 25 assists on 33 baskets. I love that style. Really sharing the ball really well. Only have 11 turnovers today, so that was great to see. I thought it was a really good game, especially with a couple weeks off here. I was worried about that rust, and I don’t think we really showed any signs of that today.

“But I really want to thank the crowd that came out. I mean, our fans were amazing. Our fans, you know, they braved parking problems today, they braved rain, and they still got here. We are so appreciative of them. But just come again on Sunday. It’s going to be easier. No hospital traffic and no rain let’s hope,” Iowa head women’s basketball coach Lisa Bluder said.

Iowa converted 13 Illinois State turnovers into 23 points and also outscored the Redbirds 24-2 in fast break points.

“Yeah, I think transition is always our best offense. We want to get to that no matter what. Obviously defending in transition is an area that we can still improve and get better at so it’s great to hear that we only gave up two points in transition. But yeah, I think that’s our best offense.

“I thought we got a lot of great contributions off the bench. Obviously, Tomi shot the ball well, Addy came in, so that always helps as well. But yeah, overall our transition offense when we’re doing it the way we should and when we get stops on the defensive end, that just leads to our transition offense. Hands down our best offense and that’s what we like to get to the most,” Clark said.

Iowa advances in the Greensboro region and will meet No. 10 seed Creighton in the second round after the Bluejays beat Colorado, 84-74. The Hawkeyes play at home inside Carver-Hawkeye Arena on Sunday versus Creighton.

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