Wednesday was a special day to be a Hawkeye fan.

Iowa has a new head women’s basketball coach. Jan Jensen, 55, takes over the reins for the Hawkeyes.

Jensen shared her initial thoughts on taking over as the head coach after spending the past 24 seasons as an assistant and associate head coach.

Iowa athletic director Beth Goetz shared her thoughts on Jensen as she officially introduced her in a press conference on Wednesday.

Here’s what Goetz had to say about Jensen.

This is a seamless passing of the baton. The definition of a true teammate is someone who embraces their role, commits to honing their craft with the sole expectation to serve those around them and make the team better. Jan Jensen has learned from the best, positioned the program for unprecedented achievements, and has been an integral component over the past decades in making Iowa one of the most successful college women’s basketball programs in the country.

Jan’s journey has been entangled with the story of women’s basketball in the state of Iowa for as long as most can remember. It was in her genes as her grandmother played six on six in the 1920s. I think I’m getting this right, Coach, was nicknamed “Lottie” for scoring lots of points. Jan carried on that tradition with her name still etched in Iowa high school record books. She then went on to become the nation’s leading scorer, averaging 29.7 points per game and became an All-American at Drake University.

Her coaching career began after spending a year playing professionally in Germany, and she has never looked back. A presence on the court and off, known equally for the impact she makes on the game and for the authenticity and kindness she shares with all she meets, making them feel like lifelong friends.

A relationship builder, a relentless recruiter, a post whisperer, always ready for coffee and a conversation with an athlete, a champion on someone’s most difficult day and on their best. She has always been leading, always been mapping a path for success for your Hawkeyes.

She embodies the culture of Iowa women’s basketball that our loyal fans have come to know and love and will lead this new era of the program during a new era of college athletics with creativity, grit, passion and commitment needed to build champions on and off the court.

A head coach must have a deep understanding of the game, be a teacher at heart, understand how to build culture and inspire belief. They must be a role model, a motivator, and have an unrelenting competitive drive to be the best and bring out the best in all who touch their program.

Jan models daily what it means have a tireless work ethic, to lead with compassion and fiery passion and to be confident in who you are and how to go about chasing your dreams. Everything we needed in the next leader of this storied program was right here.

Under Jan’s leadership, you will continue to see a team that plays with heart, with unmatched toughness, and plays an exciting brand of basketball. We have a coach who welcomes high expectations, has an energy that inspires all those around her, and a contagious enthusiasm that will continue to flame the passion of her team and our fans across the state and beyond.

You’ve been all in here with us, and we are all in with you. How amazing is it when the easy choice is the right choice, and in Caitlin Clark’s words, the only choice.

It’s now my pleasure to officially welcome and introduce the University of Iowa P. Sue Beckwith Head Women’s Basketball Coach, Jan Jensen. – Iowa athletic director, Beth Goetz.

Jensen is certainly accomplished. Known like Goetz said as a “post whisperer” and as a sensational recruiter, Jensen was a part of the full duration of the Lisa Bluder era.

That featured Iowa advancing to 18 NCAA Tournaments, five Big Ten Tournament titles, a pair of Big Ten regular season championships, five Sweet 16 appearances, three Elite Eights and each of the past two Final Fours and national championship games.