Jensen Named Naismith Coach of the Year Semifinalist

IOWA CITY, Iowa – P. Sue Beckwith, MD, head women’s basketball coach Jan Jensen was named to the 2026 Werner Ladder Naismith Women’s College Coach of the Year Semifinalist, the Atlanta Tipoff Club announced on Thursday.

Jensen guided the Hawkeyes (26-6) to their sixth 2-seed in program history in just her second season at the helm. The Hawkeyes netted seven AP Top 25 victories including five in the AP Top 15, both of which tied a school record in a single season.

The Kimballton, Iowa, native, also won 24 games in the regular season which is the second-most over the last 26 years and earned 15 Big Ten victories this year which is also the most by a coach at Iowa in their second season.

Jensen picked up her 49th career win against Michigan on March 7, 2026, in the semifinals of the Big Ten Tournament, which is the most by an Iowa women’s basketball coach in their first two seasons.

Last season, the Hawkeyes earned two wins in the Big Ten Tournament and defeated Murray State in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. Iowa also secured its ninth straight 20-win season, the second-longest streak in program history.

In her first year as head coach, Jensen added to the milestone by recording the second-most wins by a first-year head coach in program history. She also produced her first WNBA Draft Pick when Lucy Olsen was selected by the Washington Mystics.

Jensen and the 2-seed Hawkeyes will host 15-seed FDU on Saturday, March 21 at 3 p.m. (CT) inside Carver-Hawkeye Arena. The game will air nationally on ESPN and the Hawkeye Radio Network.