It won’t be an exaggeration to say Caitlin Clark redefined Iowa’s status and put the program on the map. Even now, as she’s lighting it up in the WNBA, she remains close to her roots, her friends, and her coaches. But everyone has a story or two that catches you off guard, right? Recently, Jan Jensen, Iowa’s associate coach turned head coach, peeled back the curtain on Clark’s younger days. 

Turns out, teenage Caitlin wasn’t the ‘all smiles’ kid that she is today. “She always kind of had, you know, that little attitude,” the head coach spilled, describing Clark’s high school years. “And especially in high school, that could be hard to manage.” But she was quick to add that Clark’s confidence and fire came from her talent.

She was playing at an elite level while her peers were still trying to keep up. Or, as Jensen put it, “She was in her fourth year of French, and everybody was still just trying to master English.” Recruiting such a talent was no ordinary process. “I feel so fortunate,” Jensen shared. 

“Getting her was such a blessing. She could have gone a lot of different ways,” she said during an interview with Chris Mailander. CC was the No. 4 recruit in the nation, trailing only Paige Bueckers and Angel Reese. Initially leaning toward Notre Dame, Clark had a last-minute change of heart and committed to Iowa in November 2019. 

That decision was absolute gold for the Hawkeyes. Clark’s bond with the Iowa coaching staff, especially Jensen, played a big role in her growth. Although she played under HC Lisa Bluder, Jenses was always by her side. Whether it was celebrating her on-court successes, managing her fiery side, or fun social media interactions, their connection has always been solid. 

And when she hit the court for Iowa, she rewrote the record books, scoring 1,234 points in a season and smashing Kelsey Plum’s previous record of 1,109. Caitlin Clark didn’t just shine at Iowa, she elevated the entire program. Her transition to the WNBA as the No. 1 pick was a proud moment for the school.

But with her departure, Iowa faced big questions. How do you replace someone who’s not just a player but an icon? To make matters trickier, longtime head coach Lisa Bluder decided it was time to pass the baton, leaving the program. However, her duties landed in the capable hands of Jan Jensen.

Lucy Olsen leading Iowa’s post-Caitlin Clark Era

This season, Lucy Olsen, the unexpected hero, a transfer from Villanova, entered. She had already proven her chops, finishing just behind Clark and JuJu Watkins in Division I scoring last season. She stepped into Iowa’s lineup, knowing she had big shoes to fill. 

But, as Olsen wisely put it, “Caitlin Clark is Caitlin Clark. I’m not going to try to be her. But they need a point guard, and it’s a perfect opportunity to try to make something happen.” However, she definitely did more than just fill the void, as she’s leading Iowa to a 8-0 start.

From the moment she debuted, dropping 19 points, 4 rebounds, and 7 assists, she showed nothing but brilliance. Averaging 17.3 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 5.3 assists across six games, Olsen & Co. have been unbeatable.

However, last week, she tripped while stepping off the court, suffering a deep gash on her knee. While she missed two games, fans can breathe easy as she’s fine and set to return soon. Let’s see how far they take the team this season!