Hawkeyes longtime assistant Jenni Fitzgerald retires
Following big changes at the top of Iowa women’s basketball, special assistant Jenni Fitzgerald announced her retirement.
Fitzgerald worked under Lisa Bluder for 32 years. She spent four years as an associate head coach, four as a special advisor and 20 as an assistant coach.
“It’s been a privilege to be a part of the Hawkeye family for the past 24 years,” said Fitzgerald. “Lisa, Jan, and I had big dreams of filling arenas and hoisting trophies when we first stepped on to campus. Because of the women that came through our program and our Hawkeye community, those dreams became our reality.
“Retiring is bittersweet, but I know I’m one of the few people that can say they had the honor of working alongside their best friends for 32 years. I’m forever grateful for all the memories I’ve made and the people I’ve met along the way.”
In total, Fitzgerald spent 38 years in women’s college basketball as a coach and player. In addition to Iowa, Fitzgerald spent two years as a graduate assistant at Southern Illinois before coaching alongside Bluder and new P. Sue Beckwith M.D. Head Women’s Basketball Coach Jan Jensen for eight years at Drake.
Fitzgerald is a 1991 graduate of Drake University. A starting point guard and three-year team captain, Fitzgerald earned first team all-conference recognition as a senior.
As a coach, recruiter, and the team’s primary strategist, Fitzgerald helped Iowa to 22 postseason appearances, including five Big Ten Tournament championships, two Big Ten regular season titles, 18 NCAA Tournaments, five Sweet 16s, three Elite Eights, two Final Fours, and two national championship game appearances.
“I have valued working alongside Jenni the past 32 years,” said former Iowa head coach Lisa Bluder. “She is an amazing strategist and coach, and I am thankful that I get to call her a friend for the rest of our lives!”
A multi-talented athlete, Fitzgerald was named Miss Iowa Basketball and the state’s Female Athlete of the Year in 1986. She earned first team All-State honors in basketball, softball, and volleyball during her senior year at North Scott High School. In 1995, Fitzgerald was inducted into the Iowa Girls Basketball Hall of Fame.
For more Hawkeyes coverage, follow @BlakeHornTV and @HawkeyeHQ on Twitter and Facebook. You can find Hawkeye Headquarters at HawkeyeHQ.com all season.
Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WHBF - OurQuadCities.com.
