Marquette hires Charlotte's Cara Consuegra as next women's basketball coach

Marquette reached back in its history to find a new women's basketball coach.

The Golden Eagles announced Wednesday that Cara Consuegra will be the seventh leader in program history.

Consuegra spent 13 seasons as head coach at Charlotte, compiling a 225-169 record. She was an assistant coach at MU from 2004-11.

The 45-year-old Consuegra replaces Megan Duffy, who took the job at Virginia Tech after five seasons at MU.

"When we started this process, it was our goal to find the best possible head coach to lead our student-athletes into the future," MU athletic director Bill Scholl said in a statement. "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." 

Consuegra is the all-time wins leader at Charlotte and was the Conference USA coach of the year in the 2021-22 season.

At MU, she was an assistant under Terri Mitchell. During Consuegra's seven seasons at the school, the Golden Eagles made two NCAA Tournament appearances and won the 2008 WNIT championship. She helped develop standout MU players Krystal Ellis, Angel Robinson and Carolyn Kieger, who was also the women's coach at MU before Duffy.

"The history of Marquette women's basketball is strong and the future is bright," Consuegra said in a statement. "I am excited to reconnect with the rich tradition, while leading the program to new heights."

Consuegra played at Iowa from 1997-2001. She was the first Hawkeyes player to notch more than 1,000 points and 500 assists. She played one season in the WNBA with the Utah Starzz.