Jenni Fitzgerald

Position: Assistant Coach Experience: 12th Year at Iowa Alma Mater: Drake, 1990

Jenni Fitzgerald is in her 12th season as an assistant basketball coach at the University of Iowa. Fitzgerald is in her 25th season in women's college basketball as a player and coach.

The native of Long Grove, IA, has helped guide Iowa to 10 postseason appearances, including eight NCAA Tournament berths. During her time at Iowa, the Hawkeyes won the 2001 Big Ten Tournament championship and the 2008 Big Ten regular season title. She has also helped lead Iowa to eight first-division finishes in the Big Ten, including the last four seasons.

Fitzgerald is responsible for off campus recruiting and coaches the perimeter players for the Hawkeyes. She also handles most of the film breakdown, scouting and directs the summer basketball camps.

Under Fitzgerald's tutelage, Iowa's perimeter players have garnered numerous awards. She has coached 10 players to a total of 21 all-Big Ten honors, including seven first team selections and the 2010 Big Ten Freshman of the Year (Printy). She has also mentored four players that received all-district honors and three honorable mention All-Americans (Consuegra, Alexander and Printy).

The Hawkeyes have broken numerous school records during Fitzgerald's time at Iowa. In 2009-10, Iowa shattered both the single season and Big Ten record for three-pointers made and attempted and tied single season marks for assists, three-pointers made in a single game and free throw percentage. Individually, Wendy Ausdemore broke or tied seven school records in her four years at Iowa while Kristi Smith became the first Hawkeye ever to amass over 400 points and 100 assists in three seasons. In 2009-10, Kachine Alexander set new school records in free throws made and attempted in a single season, Kamille Wahlin tied the school record for three-pointers made and set a new mark for three-pointers attempted. Kachine Alexander also became the first player in school history, and just the fifth in Big Ten history, to collect 1,000 career points, 800 career rebounds and 300 career assists.

Three former Hawkeye guards that Fitzgerald coached continued their playing careers in the WNBA, including Cara Consuegra, Lindsey Meder and Crystal Smith.

Fitzgerald is very familiar with both Lisa Bluder and fellow assistant Jan Jensen, both of whom she coached with for eight years at Drake University prior to coming to Iowa.

While at Drake, Fitzgerald worked with the guards, directed summer camps and handled the administrative duties for the Bulldog basketball program from 1993-2000.

From 1986-91, Fitzgerald was the starting point guard for the Drake Bulldogs. She was a teammate of fellow Hawkeye assistant coach Jan Jensen. As a senior, Fitzgerald served as her team's captain and was named to the All-Gateway Conference first team. As a junior, Fitzgerald was her team's Most Valuable Player.

Fitzgerald graduated from Drake in 1990 with a bachelor's degree in business administration with a management major. In January 2009, Fitzgerald was one of three former Drake student-athletes to receive the Drake Double D Award. The award is presented annually to Drake letterwinners for achievements in their chosen field or endeavor and/or community service since leaving Drake. The Double D Award is the highest honor Drake bestows on its student-athletes.

After graduation, Fitzgerald completed her Master of Science degree in Physical Education, with an emphasis in Sport Management, from Southern Illinois University in 1992. While at Southern Illinois, Fitzgerald was a graduate assistant with the Salukis.

In high school, Fitzgerald was Iowa's Female Athlete of the Year in 1986 after being named Miss Basketball and first team all-state in basketball, volleyball and softball. In 1995, she was inducted into the Iowa Girl's Basketball Hall of Fame.

Fitzgerald is the daughter of Bob and Jan Fitzgerald. She has an older sister, Robin, and younger brother, Randy.