It was another first for me. I watched a press conference for the introduction of a new head coach. I’ve gone into the deep end of sports fan geekdom. My husband says this is how I must feel when he watches obscure golf videos.
For those of you who are not into women’s basketball, the University of Iowa’s longtime head coach, Lisa Bluder, retired on Monday. She was the face of Iowa women’s basketball for 24 years. Her steadfast number 2, Jan Jensen, was promptly promoted to the coveted spot. Jan worked with Lisa for 32 years. She played the long game and it worked out.
The press conference with Jan Jensen revealed a lot about her that I didn’t know (she played at Drake and carries the ethos of being raised in a small town in Iowa). More importantly, I discovered the culture that made the women’s basketball program what it is, a culture that Lisa Bluder and others at Iowa developed and solidified. The culture continues, even as the name of the head coach changes.
The culture lives in Jan Jensen. She spoke about integrity, loyalty, and gratitude. She also spoke about the fun of a great challenge, especially in this era of NIL (name, image, likeness). She spoke about love–for the people she’s worked with for so long, for Iowa fans and players, for her home state.
I’ve been thinking about how she chose to play the long game. Jensen was asked about other opportunities she’s had to be a head coach. She said it numbered in the double digits. There were two or three times when she had doubts about saying no.
What motivates someone to stay for decades, when opportunity keeps knocking on the door?
Jensen was well-qualified to be a head coach many years ago. In her words, the job didn’t come to her because she had paid her dues. It came because of her loyalty. People at Iowa know Jan Jensen’s heart. They know her love. They know who she is, through and through. That’s integrity.
When asked about lowered expectations during a rebuilding year, Jensen talked about “chasing greatness”. She repeated this phrase several times. The culture includes crystal clear purpose, a mission of chasing greatness.
Why play the long game? To stay true to purpose, doing it with love and integrity, and steeped in gratitude.
I suspect that for Jan Jensen, playing the long game was also about the profound impact of lasting and trusting relationships. You don’t get that when you move from organization to organization, in search of something better to put on your resume.
I am grateful to see up close the drama of transitioning to a new era of women’s basketball at Iowa. Really, what I should say is the “non-drama” of the transition. This is what happens with great leadership.
Great leaders create great cultures. Great cultures create great results, along with continuity, sustainability, and a place that people want to inhabit.
That’s why Jan Jensen stayed with Lisa Bluder for 32 years and with Iowa for 24 years. She played the long game and it worked out beyond her wildest dreams.
Where are you playing the long game? Where can you begin to play the long game?
What perfect timing for these words. I have started to become more involved with what is happening in my little town. I have lived here for 40 years. For the first 30, I was almost completely oblivious to chioces that were being made. A new neighbor influenced me to start paying attention. So, I find myself now thinking about the issues, providing input, bringing neighbors together — a role to which I never aspired. I will remember these words — integrity, loyalty, and gratitude — as I work with others through some thorny issues.
So glad to hear that this example provided inspiration for you, Loretta. And good for you on getting involved in your local community! Interesting that this was a role that you never aspired to, as I see you as someone who naturally brings others together. You had a gift for this in your professional career.
Carol, Thank you for your post. It is a great reminder of so many things that can drive a person to remain with one organization with steadfast commitment, integrity and loyalty. In today’s environment where people are asking themselves important questions regarding their internal motivations, goals, and their willingness to be persistent through the challenging events that occur at every organization at times. While we may enjoy what we do, there are always changes and unforeseen challenges. Jan Jensen stayed at Iowa through all of them. I assume that she is persistent at watering her own grass, and looking inward to improve the actions and behaviors that she can change to positively affect those around her. After a long career, I feel that she demonstrated not just loyalty, but a persistent review and acknowledgement that she contributes to the success (and sometimes failure) of the team, and rather than leave she decided a long time ago to water her own grass and be the best person she could be. Right where she is. And that is admirable.
Thanks, Richard, for your insight into what it takes to stick it out when there are challenges. Yes, to watering your own grass and focusing on what you can change, which is yourself. I agree that it takes a rare person to make things work, wherever you are. It speaks to being able to enjoy the ride.