The Queens University of Charlotte Department of Athletics has named Sarah Jansen as the head women’s basketball coach. Jansen will be the eighth coach to lead the women’s basketball program after most recently serving as the head coach at Mars Hill University.
“Sarah has demonstrated the ability and commitment needed to build a competitive program at each of her coaching stops during her career,” said Cherie Swarthout, interim director of athletics. “Her passion and energy for coaching, as well as for her players, is contagious and will define the future of Queens women’s basketball.”
Jansen was named the 2016 South Atlantic Conference Coach of the Year after leading the Lions to the No. 4 seed in this year’s South Atlantic Conference Women’s Basketball Championship. Though picked to finish eighth in the preseason poll, the Lions finished the 2016 regular season at 14-8 in league play to go along with a 15-13 overall mark. In just three years, Jansen increased the program’s wins in conference by 350 percent leading the squad to back-to-back appearances in the SAC Championships after being absent from tournament play for five seasons. Additionally, Jansen’s players have earned recognition at the conference, state, regional, and national levels for their individual efforts on the court.
Jansen’s team excelled in the classroom as well getting recognized with the highest team GPA in the SAC for women’s basketball in 2014, while also toting the 2013, 2014 and 2016 SAC Women’s Basketball Scholar Athlete of the Year.
“It didn’t take long to realize Queens is a special place,” said Jansen. “I was drawn to the university’s commitment to excellence in all aspects of the student-athlete experience. It’s an exciting time to be a Royal and I can’t wait to get started.”
Prior to leading the Lions, Jansen served as the assistant coach at Belmont Abbey College from 2007-2012. As the recruiting coordinator, Jansen brought in two McDonalds All-American nominees, three North Carolina All-State players, and a 2015 NCAA DII All-American and Conference Carolinas Player of the Year. With the Crusaders, Jansen was fully responsible for all recruiting efforts, took part in player development and was the scouting director. Additionally, Jansen was an assistant coach at Wofford College from 2004-2007 helping the Terriers bring in high caliber players there as well. .
Jansen earned a degree from the University of South Carolina Upstate majoring in both psychology and criminal justice in 2004. She also holds a master’s degree from California University of Pennsylvania in sports management.
Tagged with: DII SAC
