Cara Consuegra has been named the seventh women’s basketball head coach at Marquette University, Vice President and Director of Athletics Bill Scholl announced Wednesday afternoon.
Consuegra, who was an assistant coach at Marquette from 2004-11, was 225-169 in 13 seasons at Charlotte with seven postseason appearances, including a NCAA tournament berth in 2022.
“When we started this process, it was our goal to find the best possible head coach to lead our student-athletes into the future,” Scholl said. “Ultimately, that person turned out to be one of our own. Having served seven years as an assistant coach at Marquette, Cara has an acute appreciation for the values that make both the university and the women’s basketball program so special.”
“At her core, she is about the holistic development, on and off the court, of the young women she will mentor and that mirrors the university’s approach,” Scholl added. “It’s a privilege to welcome Cara and her husband, JP, along with their two boys, Jayden and Jace, back to the Marquette family.”
Consuegra became Charlotte’s all-time wins leader at the beginning of a 2021-22 campaign in which she was named Conference USA Coach of the Year. That season, she guided the 49ers to a 22-10 overall record and 15-3 mark in league play, winning the regular season and conference tournament title. It was the first NCAA tournament bid for Charlotte since the 2008-09 season and third in program history.
“My family and I are very excited to be returning to Marquette, a place that we consider home,” said Consuegra. “I want to thank Bill Scholl and Dr. Lovell for the opportunity to lead this prestigious program. I also want to thank Charlotte and all the people and players who allowed us to be a part of their lives for 13 incredible years.”
“The history of Marquette women’s basketball is strong and the future is bright,” Consuegra added. “I am excited to reconnect with the rich tradition, while leading the program to new heights.”
The 49ers had 30 all-conference performers during Consuegra’s tenure in Charlotte, including two conference players of the year honors in Jennifer Hailey (2012-13) and Octavia Jett-Wilson (2021-22). She coached 10 1,000-point scorers and led Charlotte to a 129-53 home record (.709). The 49ers had four 20-win seasons during her 13 years in Charlotte and earned seven Women’s National Invitation Tournament berths, the most in school history.
Consuegra guided the 49ers in three different conferences, playing in the Atlantic 10 from 2011-13, Conference USA from 2013-23, and the American Athletic Conference in 2023-24. Consuegra was a one of three finalists for the Maggie Dixon Award in 2011-12, the Women’s College Basketball Association’s annual award given to the nation’s top rookie head coach.
Consuegra was an assistant under Terri Mitchell at Marquette for seven seasons from 2004-11. She helped the lead the Golden Eagles to 145 wins and seven trips to the postseason, including two NCAA tournament appearances and a WNIT Championship in 2008.
While at Marquette, Consuegra was instrumental in the development of Associated Press All-American and two-time All-BIG EAST First Team honoree, Krystal Ellis, four-time All-BIG EAST selection and WNBA draftee, Angel Robinson, and All-BIG EAST Second Team selections, Carolyn Kieger and Tatiyiana McMorris.
Consuegra was director of operations at Penn State for three years before becoming an assistant at MU.
She was a four-year letterwinner at Iowa from 1997-01 and a All-Big Ten First Team selection her senior season. She led the Hawkeyes to a pair of NCAA tournament appearances and was the first woman in program history to tally over 1,000 points and 500 assists. Consuegra was drafted and played one season with the Utah Starzz of the WNBA in 2001.
A formal introduction will be held Thursday at 2 p.m. CT at the Alumni Memorial Union on the campus of Marquette University.
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