You can join Coach Consuegra on Twitter by following @cconsuegra

Cara Consuegra enters her second season as the Charlotte 49ers head women's basketball coach after becoming the eight person named to the post April 26, 2011.

"I am thrilled that Cara has accepted our offer to be the 49ers women's basketball coach," Director of Athletics Judy Rose said at the time of her hiring. "We had tremendous interest in this job from all over the country, which speaks to the quality of the program and the respect that people have for our university. I am confident that Cara's knowledge and passion for the game will not only sustain the success that we have experienced but will take our program to new heights."

Consuegra delivered results in her first season at the helm, guiding Charlotte to a 16-14 overall record and a WNIT appearance, the 10th-straight postseason berth for the program.

Along the way, she was named a finalist for the Maggie Dixon Award, an annual honor given to the top rookie head coach nationally by the Women's Basketball Coaches Association.

"I am honored and humbled to have the opportunity to lead the Charlotte 49ers women's basketball program," Consuegra said at her introductory press conference. "I want to thank Chancellor Dubois, Judy Rose and the entire athletic administration for believing in me and giving me this tremendous opportunity. I am eager and excited to build on the great tradition the women's basketball program has at Charlotte. We have high expectations, but with the current and incoming talent, resources and the support of alumni and the Charlotte community, I believe we will continue to have great success."

Prior to coming to the Queen City, Consuegra spent the previous seven years (2004-05 through 2010-11) in Milwaukee as an assistant for the Marquette staff in the Big East Conference. With the Golden Eagles, she helped guide the program to potseason berths each season, including a pair of NCAA Tournament appearances, and 145 victories.

Highlighting her time at Marquette was a 2008 WNIT championship and a showing in the 2006 WNIT title game. Overall, the Golden Eagles tallied four 20-win seasons during her seven years at the school.

"Cara is passionate about winning and about the players," said Marquette head coach Terri Mitchell, who was the 2007 Big East Coach of the Year. "She gives 100 percent effort all the time. She is a winner who cares a great deal about the well being of the players. Cara has a creative offensive mind and is a tireless worker. She is a woman of integrity and I could not be more proud and happy for her."

One of her main responsibilities at Marquette was overseeing the development of the Golden Eagles' guards. She worked closely with 2011 WNBA  Draft Pick and All-Big East First Team selection Angel Robinson, 2011 All-Big East Second Team choice Tatiyiana McMorris, 2009 All-America and two-time All-Big East First Team pick Krystal Ellis and Nancy Lieberman Award finalist Carolyn Kieger. 

She also served as the Golden Eagles' recruiting coordinator, helping to bring in consistently top-tier recruiting classes which included several nationally-ranked players.

Before joining the Marquette coaching staff, Consuegra spent three years as the Director of Operations (2002-04) at Penn State. 

During her time at Penn State, the Nittany Lions advanced to the 2004 Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament and made two additional Sweet Sixteen appearances. 

Before embarking on her coaching career, she enjoyed a stellar four-year playing career (1998-2001) at Iowa. As a senior, she earned honorable mention All-American honors from both Kodak and the Associated Press as well as being tabbed as an All-Big Ten First Team member. 

She was voted the Most Outstanding Player of the 2001 Big Ten Tournament after leading the Hawkeyes to the title with a victory over top-seed Purdue in the championship game.

Consuegra was a recipient of the NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship Award and a three-time All-Big Ten and three-time All-Academic Big Ten honoree throughout her collegiate career. 

Iowa made two NCAA Tournament Second Round appearances during her time spent in Iowa City. 

A native of Mount Airy, Md., Consuegra holds the Iowa single-season (191) and career (576) assists records, establishing the season mark as a senior. 

She shares the Hawkeyes' single-game assists mark with 12 against Purdue February 8, 2001. 

When she graduated from Iowa, Consuegra was one of only 13 players in Big Ten history to score 1,000 points and record 500 assists in a career. She finished with 1,147 career points.

She graduated in 2001 from Iowa with honors with a bachelor's degree in sports, health and leisure studies.

Following her standout career at Iowa, she played one season (2001) in the WNBA for the Utah Starzz.

She earned a master's degree in higher education from Penn State in 2004 while serving in her director of operations role.

She married JP Josetti in the summer of 2009.