“How blessed are we”: HC Jan Jensen expresses gratitude toward Iowa Hawkeyes fans with sweet message

After the first successful stretch of her head coaching career with the Iowa Hawkeyes, Jan Jensen took time out of her schedule to thank the program's fans on Instagram. On Friday, the coach started by showing gratitude for being able to play at the Carver-Hawkeye Arena, thanking fans for their impeccable support during Iowa's first season without Caitlin Clark.

"How blessed are we to play in the Carver Hawkeye Arena?! Thx, Hawk Fans!" she wrote on her story with a picture of Iowa's home arena.

Jan Jensen also extended her cheers by wishing fans a Happy Friday the 13th, which she claims to be a result of her favorite day of the week and favorite number.

"My fave # & fave Day... Happy Friday the 13th to all!" Jensen wrote in her story while uploading a screenshot of the calendar.

Jan Jensen's Instagram story on Dec. 13, 2024, Friday

While Jensen has yet to share the significance of her favorite number, it connects her transition from a basketball player to the head coach of Iowa.

Jan Jensen's connection with No. 13

Jan Jensen wore No. 13 while playing college basketball for Drake University from 1987 to 91. She led the women's basketball circuit in scoring in her senior year, averaging 29.6 points per game, 8.6 rebounds and 1.5 steals on 57.2% shooting.

With that, she earned MVP honors for the Gateway Conference and was also named to the Missouri Valley’s women's basketball All-Centennial Team.

The Drake Bulldogs later retired her No. 13 jersey in light of her contributions to the program. Along with her jersey in the rafters of Knapp Arena in Des Moines, Iowa, Drake honored Jensen with its Drake Double D Award, the highest recognition the program bestows on its student-athletes.

Jensen also contributed to the Bulldogs as an assistant coach, joining the school in 1993 under Lisa Bluder. She helped Drake with five 20-win seasons and marked eight Missouri Valley Conference Tournament appearances.

Her bond with Bluder allowed her to transition to Iowa in 2000, where she spent 24 years as an assistant coach/associate head coach. Behind her longtime support and contribution to the Hawkeyes, Jensen was named the new head coach of the Iowa Hawkeyes on May 13.