Jan Jensen's hometown excited to see her take the reins in Iowa City
Iowa announced Lisa Bluder's successor just moments after the head coach's retirement on Monday.
Associate head coach Jan Jensen will take the reins in Iowa City.
Jensen has been a big name in basketball in Iowa for a long time.
For the last 32 years, Jensen has been at Bluder's side, coaching at Drake and Iowa. But before her coaching career, she was one of the top high school players in the country, growing up in Kimballton, a small town in Audubon County.
"This place in here, this is the Dane Dome, as we called it, it was loud," said Tom Petersen, reminiscing the six-on-six girls' basketball games where Jensen shined at Elk Horn-Kimballtown High School.
Petersen grew up with Jensen and is now the athletic director and girls' basketball head coach at Exira-Elk Horn-Kimballton.
"She used to play a lot of football with us, we also played basketball," he said. "She is what she is, she wears her heart on her sleeve. Always there and puts other people before herself."
During Jensen's senior year at EH-K, she led the country scoring 66 points per game, won the state championship and was named a national high school all-American.
Her high school jersey, now retired, is on display in the school's trophy case in front of the state championship trophy. The only other place you may be able to find more Jensen memorabilia is at the local watering hole in Kimballton.
That's where Jensen's niece keeps her hero on display. Owner Ashley Jensen took over Lugger's Tavern after her father, Jensen's brother, died in 2020.
"This is Jan's retired jersey from when she played at Drake," Ashley Jensen said, pointing to a large frame on the bar's wall of fame.
She said her favorite piece in the collection is a note Jan wrote to Ashley's late father. It reads: "Dear Doug, you're the best brother/coach anyone could have. Thanks for everything. Before I ever had a coach, I had a brother. Love, Jan."
It's easy to see in all the memorabilia: Jensen's success is celebrated in her hometown — her new job as head coach included.
But anyone will tell you that what they really love is the human behind all the awards and what she and her women's basketball teams have given to the state.
"Not only all the numerous awards and accolades and all the wins they have, but most importantly, it's all the lives they have touched," Ashley Jensen said.
The University of Iowa is planning to officially introduce Jan Jensen as head coach Wednesday afternoon at 1 p.m.
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