In May, Lisa Bluder announced her retirement after coaching for 40 years—24 of them were spent with the Iowa Hawkeyes where she played a huge role in the rise of their women’s basketball program.

Caitlin Clark and Gabbie Marshall, Lisa Bluder Herky (Image Credits: Instagram/@iowawbb)

To honor and celebrate their ‘GOAT’, the University of Iowa installed a Lisa Bluder Herky statue. Current Iowa coach Jan Jensen revealed the statue on Tuesday in the presence of Bluder and Hawkeye players. The Herky Bluder is seen holding the basketball net along with two championship rings.

Many former Iowa players, including recently graduated Caitlin Clark and Gabbie Marshall, reacted to the statue reveal on Instagram.

Players’ reactions (Credits: Instagram/@gabbie.marshall, @iowawbb)

Lisa Bluder’s coaching history at Iowa

Lisa Bluder took over the Iowa Hawkeyes after 10 seasons with the Drake Bulldogs. She was introduced as the Iowa head coach on April 7, 2000.

Bluder led the Hawkeyes to five Big Ten tournament titles and 18 NCAA tournament appearances with a 528-254 overall record. Their postseason runs included five Sweet 16, three Elite Eight, and two championship games. Bluder was named the Naismith Coach of the Year in 2019.

She is the winningest coach in program history and has been named the Big Ten Coach of the Year thrice. 20 of her former players went on to play professionally, with Caitlin Clark being the No. 1 pick in the 2024 WNBA draft. Meanwhile, eight of Bluder’s former players are coaches in the NCAA.

“After the season ended, I spent time with our student-athletes and coaches reviewing the season and preparing those moving on for what comes next,” Bluder wrote in her retirement announcement.

“With that also came personal contemplation about what this journey has meant to me, how to best champion this program and what the future looks like for my family and me. After then taking some time away with my husband, David, it became clear to me that I am ready to step aside.

Bluder handed over the reins to Jensen, a longtime staff and a player that she coached during her first season at Drake. When Bluder moved from Drake to Iowa, Jensen was already an assistant coach with the Bulldogs and was poised to take over as the head coach. Upon Bluder’s request, she moved to her home state.

Jensen’s 24-year patience was rewarded in May when she was named Bluder’s successor.