For Lisa and Hannah Bluder, time marches on

IOWA CITY — In a profession that lends itself to scheduling conflicts, Lisa Bluder finally caught a break. Sort of.

Thursday night was Senior Night at Solon High School, and eldest daughter Hannah was one of five players recognized. Meanwhile, 20 minutes away, the Ohio State Buckeyes awaited.

'I got kind of lucky,' said Bluder, women's basketball coach at the University of Iowa. 'Hannah's game started at 6 (p.m.), and our game didn't tip until 7:30.'

So Bluder joined her husband, David, in walking with Hannah for pregame festivities, then hopped in the car and zipped to Iowa City in time to be with the Hawkeyes an hour before tipoff at Carver-Hawkeye Arena.

'I was glad I was able to be there for Hannah,' she said. 'I just wish I could have seen her game.'

Such is life for a major-college coach with growing children. You get to what you can. You miss a few. Responsibility doesn't stop, and time marches on.

If you're an Iowa women's basketball fan, your introduction to Hannah Bluder came in April 2000. Angie Lee had resigned after the program slid in her final two years, and Lisa Bluder was hired away from Drake to get the ship floating again.

Bluder was accompanied at her introductory news conference by David and Hannah, then about 2 1/2 years old.

'I remember I was pregnant — very pregnant — with (second child) Emma, and David was holding Hannah, and she was singing away, so carefree,' Bluder said.

Bluder turned the Hawkeyes around in her first year, guiding them to the Big Ten tournament title. Hannah wasn't so carefree that week.

'The night before the championship game, she had been throwing up all night long,' Bluder said. 'It was disgusting. I didn't get much sleep that night.

'Then after we won, (Big Ten commissioner) Jim Delany handed me the game ball. I showed it to Hannah.'

Hannah's response: 'Mom, I want to play soccer.'

Years have passed, and wins have come consistently for Bluder's Hawkeyes. She is the school's all-time leader in victories (319 at Iowa, 675 overall) and has guided the program to eight consecutive NCAA tournaments. This year's team is 15-10 with five regular-season games remaining.

In the meantime, her kids — Hannah, Emma and David — are growing up. Hannah is now 18, and her high school basketball career is winding down.

'It's going to be really strange to have it end, and not compete any more,' Hannah said. 'Basketball has been such a huge part of my life. I've grown up with it. I've gotten to go on recruiting trips with mom, and we've shared a love for the game. I'm very happy, very proud to be her daughter.'

For Hannah, there's a trade-off for Lisa missing some of her games. There is financial security that some kids don't have. There have been some pretty cool trips; her favorite was the one last summer to Italy for the Hawkeyes' European tour — 'It was the most amazing experience,' she said.

Despite the strong mother/daughter bond, Hannah never had serious dreams about playing for the Hawkeyes.

'I never seriously thought about it,' she said. 'I've always spent a lot of time around it, and I always wanted to be with her. But mom is mom and I don't know if I wanted her to be my coach.'

Hannah leads the Spartans (12-9) in scoring at 8.6 points per game. She is battling a stress reaction in her left shin, a condition that forces her to wear a boot when she's up and active, other than when she is practicing and playing.

'It's probably good that I won't be playing after this season, so I can heal up again,' she said. 'But I want this season to go as long as possible.'

The Spartans host Anamosa in a Class 3A regional quarterfinal at 7 p.m. Saturday. Mom will make that game, too; the Hawkeyes take off Sunday for Monday's game at Minnesota.

Coach Bluder was asked for a scouting report on her daughter's game.

'Hannah can shoot the 3, but she probably doesn't shoot it enough,' she said. 'She loves to attack the basket. Her basketball IQ is very good. She's a good leader.'

Any shortcomings?

'Probably her speed and athleticism,' Lisa said. 'You can't blame her for that. You have to blame her parents.'

Solon Coach Lisa Bishop is in a similar stage as where Coach Bluder was when she started at Iowa, with three young children.

'Lisa has been wonderful to me, super supportive as a coach and as a mom,' Bishop said. 'You can see her love toward Hannah, and her whole family. It's a lot more than just basketball.

'Hannah is very mature. You can tell she has been around adults a lot, because she's so coachable and respectful.'

Hannah is likely to enroll at Iowa in the fall with an undecided major — she's interested in business. She said she may join her mother's staff as a manager down the road, but not right away.

'I want to ease into college life first,' she said.

And how about coaching someday?

'Ha, that's a good question,' she said. 'I've watched a lot of film. I've been in the locker room a lot before and after games. It's a fun job, a fun lifestyle.'

Hannah already is coaching a fifth-grade team in Iowa City, and enjoys it.

'I can't believe how much energy those kids have,' she said.

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