How do the Hawkeyes properly move on from Caitlin Clark? Iowa coach Jan Jensen details the challenge

Caitlyn Clark is undeniably special, and her impact on Iowa will be felt for a long time. When you lose such a senior-heavy, experienced class, a gap forms, no matter how talented the incoming freshman class is. Experience can’t be replaced, and it’s something you earn through hard work, failures, and triumphs. This is true for all of us in our respective fields—whether I take on a new head coaching role or any of us level up in our careers. The journey is about going through the tough moments, making mistakes, and learning from them to reach glorious heights.

What we’ll miss most from the previous era is that invaluable experience—the feeling of walking into a game knowing you can win, the grit it takes to bounce back from a loss, and the expectation that greatness is within your grasp every time. Caitlyn exemplified this as a freshman. The great ones always have that belief in themselves. I still remember her first press conference after signing, where she boldly declared that she wanted to take Iowa back to the Final Four. She didn’t just get there once, she got there twice. That rare and special drive is what set her apart.

But it wasn’t just Caitlyn’s talent and vision that shaped the team—it was her ability to empower those around her. She believed in what others didn’t, pushing her teammates to reach for the seemingly impossible. And while we’ll miss her and the experience of the senior players like Megan Gustafson, the foundation of coaching is about growth. Megan didn’t become who she was without guidance, just like Caitlyn didn’t reach her potential without coaching and challenges along the way.

Yes, we will miss those moments, the highs and lows of the past few years. But we also understand that this is the beauty of coaching—seeing players evolve and pushing through the tough times. My staff and I are excited about the next chapter. While we will always appreciate what we’ve had, we are focused on what’s next and the incredible potential that lies ahead. We’re ready to do it all again, in a different way.