Lisa Bluder receives $310,000 in bonuses from 2023-24 season
Iowa women’s basketball coach Lisa Bluder is set to receive $310,000 in bonuses following the 2023-24 season, according to Steve Berkowitz of USA Today. The Hawkeyes fell short in the national championship game for the second straight year, losing 87-75 to South Carolina on Sunday.
Additionally, Bluder is set to receive a $150,000 pay raise beginning in the 2024-25 season. She signed a two-year contract extension in July that will keep her with the program through 2029.
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Bluder just wrapped up her 24th season as the Iowa coach and has amassed a 528-253 overall record. She has directed the Hawkeyes to five Big Ten Tournament championships, four of which have come since 2019, and 18 NCAA Tournament appearances.
Bluder has been named the Big Ten Coach of the Year three times in her career and was recognized the the National Coach of the Year in 2019. Iowa’s appearances in the national championship the past two seasons were its first in program history.
The Hawkeyes got off to a quick start Sunday to jump out to a 10-0 advantage and led for much of the first half before the Gamecocks came back to take a 49-46 lead into halftime. However, Iowa managed only nine points in the third quarter and shot 33.3% in the second half to allow South Carolina to pull away.
The Hawkeyes did come as close as five points with just three minutes remaining when they made it 80-75 with a pair of free throws. Unfortunately, those would be the last points they scored all game as South Carolina hit some clutch free throws down the stretch to seal the win.
Sunday’s loss also marked the end to the historic college career of Caitlin Clark, who became the NCAA’s all-time leading scorer during her time under Bluder. Clark finished with 30 points, eight rebounds and five assists in the game as she also became the all-time leading scorer in NCAA Tournament history. ‘
Many of the players, including Clark, that helped Iowa to this run the past couple of years will move on to the next chapter of their careers. The Hawkeyes do return Hannah Stuelke, who ranked second on the team with 14.1 points per game.
She’ll likely be expected to lead them next season as Bluder aims to maintain to the reputation she’s built of late.