Lisa Bluder earns two, one-year contract extensions plus $150,000 in bonuses
Lisa Bluder was one of highest-grossing coaches in women’s college basketball this season after Iowa’s run to a second straight national title game. It’s more just that, though, for the Hawkeyes’ head coach after her 24th season leading the program.
Steve Berkowitz of USA Today shared several bonuses that went out to coaches after this season with Bluder earning the second-most behind only South Carolina’s Dawn Staley. However, he added that she will also be receiving two separate extensions of one year each. With that comes a raise of $150,000 for Iowa finishing as the national runner-up again.
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This comes after Bluder earned, per Berkowitz, $310,000 already for her work in ’23-’24.
Bluder had already signed a new contract extension last summer to keep her at Iowa through 2029. That means these pair of extensions would put her in Iowa City through 2031.
The last two years have been the best finishes in the history of the program for the Hawkeyes. They went 31-7 in ’22-’23 and then 34-5 in ’23-’24. Both, respectively, were the best records in school history for a combined finish of 65-12 (.844). Much of that came on the back of Caitlin Clark’s years as an upperclassman. In that time, she averaged 29.7 points, 8.8 assists, 7.3 rebounds, and 1.6 steals while being an All-American and a National Player of the Year.
The Hawkeyes won the Big Ten Tournament in both campaigns. One then led to a No. 2 seed with this year leading to a No. 1 seed. Still, like last year, Iowa came a game short of the ultimate goal. They fell by 17 to LSU in Dallas last year in the national final. That was before losing by a dozen to South Carolina on Sunday in Cleveland in this year’s championship.
Bluder has guided the most successful run for Iowa to where they were part of a historic, national stage. Now, that has earned her an even longer stint with the program with plenty more incentives for what she and the Hawkeyes have achieved the last two years.
Iowa to honor women’s basketball team on Wednesday at Carver-Hawkeye Arena
The Iowa women’s basketball team will be honored inside Carver-Hawkeye Arena on Wednesday following the program’s second straight trip to the NCAA championship game, per release.
The Hawkeyes fell to the South Carolina Gamecocks during Sunday’s title game. Now, this event will be the final sendoff for the five seniors on the roster.
“Fans will have the opportunity to hear from P. Sue Beckwith, MD, Head Women’s Basketball Coach Lisa Bluder and Hawkeye student-athletes, including National Player of the Year Caitlin Clark and seniors Molly Davis, Sharon Goodman, Kate Martin, and Gabbie Marshall,” the release reads.
“The team’s trophies will be on hand at the celebration, along with the Iowa Spirit Squad, Herky and the Iowa Pep Band.”
The athletic department also requested that fans “not gather upon the team’s rival later today.” Instead, ask that fans wait for Wednesday’s celebration.