After 24 years with the Iowa women’s basketball program, assistant coach Jenni Fitzgerald has announced her retirement. Fitzgerald worked alongside head coaches Lisa Bluder and Jan Jensen at both Iowa and Drake, totaling 32 seasons as part of Bluder’s staff. During her time with the Hawkeyes, Fitzgerald helped lead the team to 18 NCAA Tournaments, five Sweet 16s, three Elite Eights, two Final Fours, and two national championship game appearances. The team also won five Big Ten Tournament championships, including the past three, as well as two Big Ten regular season championships.
Fitzgerald was primarily responsible for coaching Iowa’s guards and had great success developing players. She coached 17 players to a total of 37 all-Big Ten honors, including 15 first-team All-Big Ten selections. Eight of the guards she coached went on to play in the WNBA, including notable players like Crystal Smith, Sam Logic, and Kathleen Doyle. A graduate of Drake University, Fitzgerald was a standout player in her own right, earning accolades such as Miss Iowa Basketball and the state’s Female Athlete of the Year in high school. In 1995, she was inducted into the Iowa Girls Basketball Hall of Fame.
Reflecting on her time with the Hawkeyes, Fitzgerald expressed gratitude for the memories made and the people she met along the way. She highlighted the privilege of working alongside her best friends, Bluder and Jensen, and the fulfillment of seeing their dreams of filling arenas and hoisting trophies become a reality. While retiring is bittersweet for Fitzgerald, she leaves with a sense of accomplishment and pride in the program’s success under her guidance. Her impact on the team and the players she coached will be felt for years to come.
The departure of Fitzgerald marks another significant change in the Iowa women’s basketball program during this offseason. With a new head coach in Jan Jensen and now a vacant assistant coaching position, the team is entering a period of transition and adjustment. The legacy of Fitzgerald’s coaching and mentorship will be remembered as the team moves forward and looks to build on the success she helped achieve. The void left by her retirement presents an opportunity for new coaches to step up and continue the tradition of excellence that Fitzgerald established during her tenure with the Hawkeyes.
As Iowa looks to the future, there will undoubtedly be changes and challenges to navigate in the wake of Fitzgerald’s retirement. Her departure signals the end of an era that saw unprecedented success and growth for the women’s basketball program. The team will need to adapt to new leadership and coaching styles, while also honoring the legacy and contributions of Fitzgerald to the program. The upcoming season will be a test of the team’s resilience and ability to carry on the winning tradition that Fitzgerald helped establish over her 24 years with the Hawkeyes.
The impact of Fitzgerald’s retirement extends beyond just wins and losses on the basketball court. Her influence on the players she coached and the relationships she formed within the Iowa community will leave a lasting impression. As a trusted mentor and friend to many, Fitzgerald’s departure will be felt both professionally and personally by those she worked with over the years. Her dedication to the program and commitment to success have left a lasting legacy that will continue to inspire and guide the Iowa women’s basketball team for years to come.
