Jan Jensen on Iowa roster after coaching change: 'Everybody's here, everybody stayed'

Jan Jensen is moving one spot over down the bench to take the place of Lisa Bluder at Iowa. That will make it a more uninterrupted shift, which is why the Hawkeyes are keeping their roster for next season together.

Jensen spoke about the cohesion within the program during her first press conference as head coach on Wednesday. She said that she was blessed that all of their pieces would be sticking together with this decision, whether meaning the coaching staff, the team, or their upcoming recruits.

“I feel very fortunate with that,” said Jensen. “You know, as I’ve eluded to, it has been a big change but most everything remains the same. Thankfully to our staff returning and every one of our players, every committed player. Everybody’s here, everybody stayed. I just consider that, on day one, a really big win that everybody was with me and with us.”

“I think that is nice, just the continuity,” Jensen said.

Bluder stepped down this week after a near quarter century leading the Hawkeyes. She departs after winning 528 of her 716 career wins there. Among those were seven total titles in the Big Ten and a pair of national title appearances the past two seasons to cap off what were 18 berths in the NCAA Tournament. She herself was also Naismith Coach of the Year in 2019 and a three-time Big Ten Coach of the Year.

Jensen succeeds her after being an assistant and associate head coach for her at Iowa as well as Drake. That’s why she’s pleased that Bluder will be sticking around as well in having a presence within the program as she moves into retirement.

“I think it’s great that Lisa agreed to be in an advisor role – I don’t know what we’ll exactly call that. But, you know, she’s going to be around,” said Jensen. “She built it, she loves it, and she’s going to be a great resource for me, you know. I’m going to need a little bit of grace from my team as we learn and grow. Certainly I’m going to make my share of mistakes but I’m going to have her to kind of lean on.”

“The players? They can see her on occasion,” Jensen added. “I do think that’s just really going to add to the seamless nature of this hire in that way.

Iowa has built something that can they can pass on after 24 seasons under Bluder. Jensen will now take it from here and look to keep what they’ve had going into her own tenure during the seasons to come.

“I’m just fortunate that I’m the one that’s been the associate head coach that got the shot,” said Jensen.