Zach Boyden-Holmes / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Caitlin Clark’s Former Coach Makes Career Decision Amid Retirement

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Max Escarpio | Last updated Nov 1, 2025 10:57 AM ET

The Iowa Hawkeyes women’s basketball program is gearing up for another season and will play Southern on Monday night.

It’s their second year since star Caitlin Clark left for the WNBA and since longtime head coach Lisa Bluder retired.

Bluder was the coach since the 2000-01 season and led the Hawkeyes to two Final Fours, five Big Ten tournament titles and two Big Ten regular season titles.

Jan Jensen has since taken over the program and went 23-11 last season. Jensen was Bluder's associate coach since Bluder got to Iowa and earned a promotion.

Bluder took to the year off, and while she isn't returning to coaching, she's returning to the game.

Former Iowa head coach Lisa Bluder, left, poses for a photo with former Iowa guard Caitlin Clark (22).© Joseph Cress/Iowa City Press-Citizen / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

On Friday, NBC announced Bluder will join the broadcast team for this upcoming season as a women's basketball college countdown studio analyst.

Bluder will not only cover the Big Ten, but she'll also cover the Big 12 and the Big East.

NBC announces that former Hawkeye coach Lisa Bluder will join the broadcast team as a women's basketball College Countdown studio analyst.

Bluder will work Big Ten, Big 12, and Big East games on NBC & Peacock.

She should be terrific.

Bluder retired in 2024 following 24… pic.twitter.com/mydWSZAP3J
— Keith Murphy (@MurphyKeith) October 31, 2025

Bluder is now 64 and still has a lot to give to the game of college basketball. Prior to Bluder's time at Iowa, she was the coach at Drake for 10 seasons.

This upcoming season will be the first time NBC covers the Big Ten, Big East and Big 12 all together.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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