University of Georgia Athletics
Get To Know: Associate Head Coach Karen Lange
August 07, 2015 | Women's Basketball
ATHENS, Ga. — Head coach Joni Taylor begins her first year at the helm of the Georgia Lady Bulldogs basketball program this season. Joining Taylor on the staff is associate head coach Karen Lange, along with assistant coaches Robert Mosley and Chelsea Newton. Below is a brief question and answer session with Lange, who will be in her first season in Athens.
The Raleigh, N.C., native has more than two decades of playing and coaching experience at college basketball's highest levels. After an outstanding career as a player at Iowa, Lange has had coaching stops at Virginia Tech (1997-04), Kansas (2004-10), Mid-America Nazarene (2010-11) and Charlotte (2011-15).
Q: First of all, just talk about your relationship with head coach Joni Taylor. What brought you here to the University of Georgia?
A: "Joni and I have known each other for a few years just through the coaching profession and friends within the profession. That is how we first got to know each other. We spent some time together at a couple of different coaching conferences and clinics, at the Final Four and different venues like that. As far as coming here to Georgia, it is just a great opportunity to be a part of an unbelievable school in an awesome conference. Most importantly, I have been blessed to work with great people in my career and Joni is another one of those people. I am excited to work with someone in this type of atmosphere with her character and someone I share the same values with — that's really important to me."
Q: What is it that attracts people to Joni as a coach?
A: "I think her professionalism as a coach, for me doing this as long as I have done it, there's so many different people in our profession. When I first started, I played for very professional people, I've always worked with people who have shown great professionalism. It has taught me the right way of doing things, and I think Joni is another great person for me to be around on a day-to-day basis. Not only does she show great professionalism, she also has tremendous values. Coaching and winning is at the top of our list, but the way that you do it is very important to me. Joni exudes that way of doing things the right way."
Q: With 21 years of playing and coaching experience combined, what is the biggest thing you have learned throughout that time?
A: "That every day is different. That sometimes when you think what you are doing isn't making a difference, you learn that it really is. It's a lot of little small things that you don't think are a big deal to young people — I've learned that it all matters, and I try to be very intentional with not missing the small stuff or not skipping over the small things. I've learned a lot of things, but that would be something that experience teaches you and you learn."
Q: You have been to 18 postseasons in 21 years as a player and coach. What is the key to that success?
A: "Having the right people. Honestly, there's a lot that goes into what we do, but so much of our success as coaches is relying on our players. I have been blessed to have great opportunities to coach really talented players. I like to think that there's a part of what we have done with them has developed them and made them better, but I'm not naive to the fact that those players were pretty good when we started with them. I think just being able to take diverse personalities and get them to be able to come together over a long stretch of the season to reach their potential is key."
Q: What is the greatest moment in your career?
A: "For me, the greatest moment as a player was going to the Final Four my freshman year at Iowa. That is just an unbelievable experience, and that has just helped me as a coach to really work hard to get players to experience that type of excitement. Even if it is just going to the NCAA Tournament, and you don't have the good fortune of making it to the Final Four, it's hard to explain to that player what that feels like and you want every player to experience that.
"As a coach, the most exciting moment for me that I can remember would be the one year at Virginia Tech when we made it to the Sweet 16 and played Tennessee. That was exciting. One year at Kansas we made the WNIT Championship game at a sold out Allen Fieldhouse. To have that experience in that environment is great for young people to experience that and see the final result of their hardwork."
Q: How do you balance the busy life of being a coach with being a parent and having a family?A: "I have an unbelievable husband, and I think that is the most important thing. For me, when I'm working, whether it is 7 a.m. or 8 at night, I put everything into it. When it is time to be with my children and my family, I put everything into that. I still work at home. My kids might come to work. But, I just try to be present when I'm there. I also try to teach kids just the value of understanding that we are a basketball family. I don't think my kids know anything different. They know that when mom is traveling during the week they want me there but they also understand why I am not. That helps me that they understand, and that is a good thing."
Q: What is your perfect day?
A: "My perfect day is watching my kids play baseball, soccer or basketball. I could stay and do that all day."
Favorite Movie: The Italian Job
Favorite Book: Anything by James Patterson or any kind of leadership book
Favorite Hobby: Playing golf or anything outside
Favorite Music: I surprise people with my music choice, but if I had to pick one genre it would be R&B.
Favorite Vacation Spot: Anywhere at the beach
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