Lisa (Geske) Bluder (2000) - Hall of Fame

Lisa (Geske) Bluder

Induction:
2000
Class:
1983

Many people would argue that former players make the best coaches, particularly at the college level. Lisa Bluder, is a textbook example.

Bluder, a native of Marion, Iowa, graduated from Linn-Mar High School in 1979. She was a three-year starter for the University of Northern Iowa women's basketball team, playing an astonishing 108 games, averaging 9.6 points and 4.8 rebounds per game. During her playing career, Bluder climbed her way to the top of the Panther record books. Her 31 games played in a season ties her with two other teammates. Her 19 rebounds against Illinois-Chicago is second highest in school history. During her playing days at UNI, Bluder's teams compiled a 57-30 record.

Upon graduating in 1983, she immediately began her coaching career. She accepted the head coaching and Assistant Athletic Director position at St. Ambrose College in Davenport, Iowa, member of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics. She saw her first team through an 18-13 season and she compiled a 169-36 record in six years. During her last four seasons with the Queen Bees, her record was an unprecedented 131-11, earning her the NAIA District 15 Coach of the Year honor four out of five years. She led three teams to the NAIA National Tournament. In 1990, her final year with the Queen Bees, Bluder's team compiled a 34-1 record. Ranked No. 1 most of the season, St. Ambrose fell in the semifinal game of the tournament to eventual national champion Southwestern Oklahoma.

Her success at St. Ambrose led to the head coaching position at Drake University. The one-time nationally-recognized basketball program was in trouble. In her 11 years as head coach, Bluder constructed a 187-106 record, guiding the Bulldogs to three Missouri Valley Conference regular season titles (1996-1997, 1997-1998, 1999-2000) and four Valley tournament crowns (1995, 1997, 1998, 2000). She received recognition for her achievements at Drake by being named Missouri Valley Conference Coach of the Year in 1995, 1997, and 1998. The 1997 season saw her receive national recognition, earning Women's Basketball Coaches Association Coach of the Year. In April 2000, Bluder was introduced as the University of Iowa's new women's head basketball coach.