From North Scott to the QC Sports Hall of Fame
Iowa women’s basketball associate head coach Jenni Fitzgerald is one of the most decorated athletes in Iowa girl’s history.
She excelled in basketball, volleyball and softball for the North Scott Lancers — earning all-state honors in every sport.
“I loved it. I loved playing sports. I enjoyed it,” Fitzgerald said. “I suppose when you have some success it makes you wanna do it some more.”
Fitzgerald got a taste of success as a teenager at North Scott High School.
“You didn’t have to specialize so early, and so i was fortunate for that reason,” Fitzgerald recalled.
Now over three decades later, the former three-sport star is a member of the Quad City Sports Hall of Fame.
“We had great coaches that allowed me to practice the other sports despite being in that season,” Fitzgerald said. “I had incredible teammates, which probably made me look better than i was.”
Frank Wood coached Fitzgerald in basketball at North Scott. He says her success was a product of a relentless work ethic.
“She was gonna come in and shoot more and work more on her shot,” Wood said. “If she needed to work on spiking in volleyball or hitting, she was gonna spend the extra time.”
“It was just a perfect time in high school athletics at North Scott for us,” Fitzgerald said. “It’s just like everything was all about the team, always, in all the sports. you were successful, because everybody wanted you to be successful.”
Fitzgerald went on to have a successful college basketball career at Drake University. She’s now entering her 19th season with the Iowa women’s basketball program as and 27th overall an assistant to coach Lisa Bluder — who is also a member of the Quad city Sports Hall of Fame.
“Lisa’s a tremendous coach, tremendous role model and has taught me so much as a coach,” Fitzgerald said. “It’s just kind of ironic and just kind of crazy that it happened that way, very fortunate.”
“Well I think they’re basically two peas-in-a-pod. I mean, basketball is their sport, i think they have the same philosophy and because of the connection that they’ve had, that’s special,” Wood said.
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