It has been a seamless transition from legendary former coach Lisa Bluder to Jan Jensen.
There was no doubt when Jensen was hired that she would carry on a lot of the things that Bluder used to be so successful with her, while adding her own special twist.
After Caitlin Clark graduated in 2024, Bluder retired, and Jensen was promoted, but there has been no drop-off in success.
Last season with star guard Lucy Olsen running the show, Iowa went 23-11 (10-8 Big Ten) and made the NCAA Tournament field.
This season, the Hawkeyes have already notched 20 wins with a 20-5 (11-3 Big Ten) record, the only time in Iowa program history that a coach had back-to-back 20-plus win seasons to start their career.
Jensen has continued the long-running success in women's basketball at the University of Iowa, and now she is getting recognition for it.
Jensen was added to the Naismith Coach of the Year Watch List
That's our head coach 🤩 @goiowa has been named to the Naismith Coach of the Year Watch List! pic.twitter.com/N22Fv4TT3q
— Iowa Women's Basketball (@IowaWBB) February 18, 2026
After notching her second consecutive 20-plus win season, Jensen was added to the Naismith Coach of the Year Watch List.
Jensen has tallied 43 wins, just two shy of tying Angie Lee for the most in program history by a head coach in their first two seasons.
Jensen has guided Iowa to six wins over top-25 teams this season, all Quad One wins, and has them thoroughly in the conversation for a Big Ten title.
Iowa's six Quad One wins are tied for sixth nationally and will help Iowa's resume as we get closer to Selection Sunday.
The Hawkeyes are headed to West Lafayette to take on Purdue in their next game on February 19 at 6:00 p.m. Central Time.