The Iowa Hawkeyes women’s basketball program already underwent some significant changes after Caitlin Clark made the leap to the WNBA. But on Monday, the program underwent perhaps even more significant change after longtime head coach Lisa Bluder made a surprising decision to exit the program.
Bluder has been the head coach of Iowa’s women’s basketball program for the last 24 years. So to say that her impact on the program is as significant as anyone’s is no overstatement.
On Monday, Bluder issued a statement via the Iowa Hawkeyes team website to reveal that she would be retiring from college basketball after 40 years coaching in the sport.
“It is with a range of emotions that I share with you today that I have decided to step down from leading the Iowa women’s basketball team after 24 memorable years,” wrote Bluder. “I informed President Wilson and Director of Athletics Beth Goetz of my decision and I am grateful for their unwavering support and offered them my assistance in any manner in the future.”
This of course caught the attention of Caitlin Clark, who took to social media to offer some nice words for her former coach.
“Simply no one better at building a team,” wrote Clark on Twitter/X. Thank you for believing in me more than anyone. Enjoy retirement, coach. Very much deserved.”
Simply no one better at building a team… Thank you for believing in me more than anyone 🤍 Enjoy retirement, coach. Very much deserved 🥹 https://t.co/XnxmteSCTq
— Caitlin Clark (@CaitlinClark22) May 13, 2024
As great as Caitlin Clark is and likely would have been in any situation, Bluder was the one who gave her a chance to succeed at the highest level, essentially handing over the keys to Clark to play her entertaining style of play.
If she hadn’t done this, who knows, maybe Caitlin Clark doesn’t have the kind of impact that she has had on the sport.
Basketball fans everywhere should be thankful that Bluder brought out Clark’s potential at Iowa. And for that, she should receive her flowers after her decision to retire on Monday.
About Reice Shipley
Reice Shipley is a staff writer for Comeback Media that graduated from Ithaca College with a degree in Sports Media. He previously worked at Barrett Sports Media and is a fan of all things Syracuse sports.