UI Athletics news release
Iowa City, Iowa — Special Assistant to the Head Coach Jenni “Fitz” Fitzgerald announced her retirement on Wednesday. Fitzgerald has spent the last 32 years as a member of Lisa Bluder’s staff, including four years as an associate head coach, 20 seasons as an assistant coach, and four seasons as an advisor for the Hawkeyes.
“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 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.