Charlotte 49ers head women’s basketball coach Cara Consuegra has announced the promotion of staff member Karen Lange from assistant coach to associate head coach, beginning with the 2013-14 campaign.

“I am thrilled to announce the promotion of Karen to associate head coach,” Consuegra said. “Karen’s contributions to the program both on and off the court have been integral to the success of Charlotte women’s basketball during our time here. She is very deserving of this title and I look forward to the positive impact she will continue to have on our program.”

Lange, a Raleigh, N.C., native, completed her second season as a member of the Niners program in 2012-13, helping guide the team to a 26-6 record, the second best in school history. She has been on staff during both of Consuegra’s years as head coach as Charlotte has extended its postseason streak to 11-consecutive seasons, including a berth in the 2013 WNIT Sweet 16.

“I am grateful and honored that Cara has the confidence in me to give me the title of associate head coach,” Lange said. “I will continue to diligently work to have a positive impact on our players and the Charlotte women’s basketball program.”

Lange works primarily with the point guards and perimeter players. This past year, under her guidance, junior Ny Hammonds broke the single-season school record with 209 assists on her way to garnering All-Atlantic 10 Third Team honors.

Hammonds also became a scoring threat, finishing the campaign as one of three Charlotte players with a double-figure scoring average at 10.0 points per game. She played a single-season program standard 1,101 minutes and was listed among the Players to Watch for the Nancy Lieberman Award, given year-end to the nation’s top point guard.

In addition, Lange also helped assist in the development of starters Jai Forney and Hillary Sigmon.

Lange came to Charlotte after spending the 2010-11 campaign as the head coach at MidAmerica Nazarene in Olathe, Kan. She previously spent six years as the lead assistant coach and recruiting coordinator in the Big 12 at Kansas, helping the Jayhawks reach the postseason in four of her half-dozen years with the program.

Her first foray into coaching was in 1998 when she embarked on a seven-year stint at Virginia Tech. With the Hokies, she served as an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator. The program played in five NCAA Tournaments, including a trip to the 1999 NCAA Sweet 16.

Overall during her coaching career, Lange has mentored four WNBA draft picks, 22 all-conference players and three Academic All-Americans.

She played collegiately at Iowa, stepping into an integral role for the 1993 NCAA Final Four team. In her senior season of 1996, she handed out 139 assists to earn honorable mention All-Big Ten accolades as the Hawkeyes reached the NCAA Sweet 16.

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