Staff Directory
- Title :
- Head Coach
- E-Mail:
- Phone:
- 288-5784
- Experience :
- Second Year
- Alma Mater:
- Iowa, 2001
Cara Consuegra was named the seventh women’s basketball head coach at Marquette University on April 17, 2024 and competed her first year in charge of the Golden Eagles women’s basketball program in 2024-25.
Consuegra (pronounced con-SWAY-gruh) guided Marquette to a 21-win season and earned BIG EAST Co-Coach of the Year honors in her first year back in Milwaukee. Marquette finished fourth in the BIG EAST after being picked 10th in the preseason coaches’ poll. The Golden Eagles made it to the second round of the Women’s Basketball Invitation Tournament.
The Golden Eagles finished the season with a 13-2 record at the Al McGuire Center, tied for the best home record by a first-year head coach. Marquette reached 20 wins in 28 games, tied for the second-fastest road to 20 wins by a first-year head coach in program history with Terri Mitchell (1996-97). Consuegra also tied Mitchell for the most wins in February in her first year with six.
Consuegra earned her fifth BIG EAST road win of the season on Jan. 25, 2025, at Georgetown, the most conference road wins by a first-year head coach in program history.
Under Consuegra’s leadership, Skylar Forbes earned All-BIG EAST First Team honors after having a breakout sophomore season. Forbes set the single season blocks record at 56 and was just the second player in program history to shoot 90-percent or better from the free throw line in a season. Lee Volker earned All-BIG EAST Second Team honors after averaging career bests in almost every offensive and defensive category.
The Golden Eagles were consistently top 50 in the nation in field goal percentage defense (38.1 percent) and held opponents to under 45-percent shooting from the field in 28-of-32 games. Marquette led the BIG EAST in rebounding all season at 37.5 rebounds per game and a +4.8 rebound margin. The Golden Eagles outrebounded their opponent in 20-of-32 games.
Marquette finished third in the BIG EAST in scoring offense (67.1 points per game) and scoring margin (+7.8).
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,” MU Vice President and Director of Athletics Bill Scholl said at the time of the hire. “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.
Consuegra, from Mount Airy, Maryland, lives in Milwaukee with her husband, JP Josetti, a two-time graduate of Marquette, and their sons, Jayden and Jace.
CONSUEGRA COACHING/PLAYING HISTORY
Marquette (2024-pres.)
Head Coach
Charlotte (2011-24)
Head Coach
Marquette (2004-11)
Assistant Coach
Penn State (2001-04)
Director of Operations
WNBA’s Utah Starzz (2001)
56th overall selection
Iowa Hawkeyes (1997-01)
All-Conference Point Guard
| Year | School | Overall W-L | Conference W-L | Postseason |
| 2011-12 | Charlotte | 16-14 | 8-6 (A10) | WNIT First Round |
| 2012-13 | Charlotte | 26-6 | 13-1 | WNIT Quarterfinals |
| 2013-14 | Charlotte | 15-16 | 9-7 (C-USA) | WNIT First Round |
| 2014-15 | Charlotte | 15-17 | 10-8 | |
| 2015-16 | Charlotte | 19-12 | 12-6 | WNIT First Round |
| 2016-17 | Charlotte | 21-10 | 12-6 | |
| 2017-18 | Charlotte | 14-16 | 10-6 | |
| 2018-19 | Charlotte | 18-13 | 9-7 | WNIT First Round |
| 2019-20 | Charlotte | 21-9 | 11-7 | |
| 2020-21 | Charlotte | 10-12 | 9-5 | WNIT First Round |
| 2021-22 | Charlotte | 22-10 | 15-3 | NCAA First Round |
| 2022-23 | Charlotte | 12-19 | 7-13 | |
| 2023-24 | Charlotte | 16-15 | 9-9 (AAC) | |
| 2024-25 | Marquette | 21-11 | 12-6 (BIG EAST) | WBIT Second Round |
| Totals | 14 seasons | 246-180 (.577) | 146-90 (.619) |
WHAT THEY'RE SAYING
“Cara is an excellent choice for Marquette! She knows the program and the community well after serving as an assistant coach for the Golden Eagles. I feel blessed that I was able to coach Cara when we won a Big Ten Championship on her birthday and she was named the tournament MVP. I always knew that she was going to be a great collegiate coach when she would come to practice each day with a journal writing notes.” - Lisa Bluder, Former Iowa HC
"I am thrilled for both Cara and Marquette. She is a perfect fit for not only the women’s basketball program but the Marquette community. She will lead with her heart and no doubt inspire those around her to strive for excellence. I absolutely loved being coached by her and learned so much from her while we worked together. She is a tremendous teacher who has a passion for helping young women shine both on and off the floor. Cara holds a deep connection to Marquette and will no doubt lead her players to Be The Difference!” - Carolyn Kieger, Penn State HC
"I am thrilled for Cara to have the opportunity to lead the Marquette women’s basketball program, a program she poured into for seven years prior. Having coached and learned from Cara for four years, I know firsthand Marquette couldn’t have picked a more dedicated leader to guide them on the court and in the community. Cara not only wants athletes to succeed on the court but has a great passion for pushing young athletes to become amazing people.“ - Tanisha Wright, Chicago Sky Assistant Coach
"I was very excited when I heard the news that Cara was named the next Head Coach at Marquette. Cara was an important part of the success we had while she was on my staff. Her tireless work ethic, knowledge of the game, and ability to teach and develop players impacted the program from day one. More than what she did on the court, it is what Cara did off the court by caring and establishing great relationships with the players that made a huge difference. Having her back is a win for Marquette and the program is in great hands.” - Terri Mitchell, former Marquette HC
