Lisa Bluder, the coach of the Iowa women’s basketball team, recently announced that he will be resigning soon because of…
Lisa Bluder has led Iowa women’s basketball to an unmatched run of success, and she continues to do so. On Friday, more proof that Bluder is here to stay was provided.
According to a press announcement from the school, the seasoned Hawkeyes coach has been given a contract extension that would keep her employed through 2029. In July 2021, Iowa had earlier announced that Bluder’s contract would be extended until 2026. However, part of her initial agreement required that the contract be automatically extended by one year for each NCAA Tournament appearance Iowa makes. Bluder’s contract will run until she is 68, thanks to the two extra years she has earned since that announcement and the additional Iowa tack on this deal for winning the Big Ten Tournament the previous season.
With effect from July 1, her base pay increased to $1 million a year from $838,506. In accordance with the extension that the Des Moines Register was able to obtain through an open-records request, Bluder will also receive an additional $400,00 in guaranteed revenue (camps, shoes, and apparel) for each year that her contract is valid. The guaranteed income amount has increased from $115,000 under the prior agreement. Additionally, Bluder will divide an additional $10,000 (up from $20,000 to $30,000) that she receives from camps and clinics among her staff members.
It’s important to note one more adjustment. On January 1st, the year after Bluder’s employment ends, the institution will give her a lump sum payment of $500,000, even if she takes a new job elsewhere. This special detail highlights how certain Iowa is that Bluder will end his Hawkeye career.
The following applies to Bluder’s possible base-salary increases for each remaining contract year:
Bluder will be entering her 24th season at Iowa, where she has transformed the Hawkeyes into one of the top teams in the country with 494 victories and a.665 winning percentage.
Over the past six seasons, Iowa has a record of 151-47, which includes appearances in national championship games, the Elite Eight, three Big Ten Tournament championships, and regular-season titles. Iowa has placed among the top 10 in the AP rankings in three of those seasons.
Bluder has placed the Hawkeyes squarely at the top tier of the sport with to Megan Gustafson’s recent dominance and her current obsession with things Caitlin Clark. When you combine that with the enormous program support—all of the games at Carver-Hawkeye Arena are expected to be sold out for the upcoming season—it’s easy to understand why Iowa women’s basketball has never been in better shape.
