2012-13 Coaching Staff

Kate Mullen - Head Women's Basketball Coach

(860) 685-2888 - kmullen@wesleyan.edu

kmullen     Hired as an adjunct assistant professor of physical education at Wesleyan in 1992, Kate Mullen is in her 21st year leading the women's basketball program in 2012-13. Kate guided the team to nine consecutive winning seasons from 2000-2009 with a 153-69 (.689) record during the span, and added another winning mark in 2011-12. The Cardinals appeared in nine straight NESCAC tournaments between 2002 and 2010 and made two trips to the NCAAs during the stretch. After going 21-4, a team best winning percentage (.840), and earning the second seed in the NESCAC tournament, Kate was voted NESCAC Coach of the Year by her conference peers in 2002-03. The 2004-05 campaign led to a 22-5 record, the winningest in team history, while securing an NCAA bid and advancing to the Sweet Sixteen. In 2005-06, the team made its second visit to the NCAAs and finished with an 18-8 mark.
     Bringing with her a solid background in coaching, Kate was the head basketball coach at Elms College for seven seasons, going 4-3 against Wesleyan over that time. She also served as associate director of athletics at Elms. Prior to her time with the Blazers, Kate was the head coach of women's basketball at Westfield State College from 1981-85 while teaching in the Enfield, Conn., school system. From her 28 seasons in the college coaching ranks, Kate enters 2011-12 with 341 victories, ranking her among the top-40 active Division III coaches and second in the NESCAC. In April 2011, Kate was inducted into the Connecticut Women's Basketball Hall of Fame as one of seven inductees and was the only individual inducted as a college coach.
      Kate is a veteran of numerous summer basketball camps as a coach and lecturer. She is co-owner and director of the Fundamental Basketball Camp held at Wesleyan University. A 1978 graduate of Central Connecticut State University, where she was an outstanding three-sport athlete (field hockey, basketball, softball), Kate was inducted into her alma mater's Athletics Hall of Fame in April 2010. She earned her master's degree in physical education from Springfield College in 1992. As an associate director of athletics at Wesleyan, Kate also teaches physical education activity classes and is currently an adjunct professor at the University.
Chris Lanser - Assistant Coach

(860) 685-2983 - clanser@wesleyan.edu

chris lanser      Moving into his 18th year with the women's basketball program, Chris Lanser remains a mainstay in the program’s growth. As an employee of the university for 18 years, Chris initially headed the Wesleyan Challenge program, then as director of community services and currently, as an associate director of admissions. Chris also is one of the admissions office liaisons to the athletic department. Chris played four years of basketball at Haverford College from 1979-83, captained the team for two seasons and was a Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) all-star. He earned a degree from Temple University in Education in 1992.  His coaching experience prior to Wesleyan came from three years at the middle-school level in California.

 
Katie Higier - Assistant Coach

(860)  685-2913

katie higier      Joining the Wesleyan coaching staff for the first time in 2011-12, Katie Higier will be in her second year as an assistant women's basketball coach and intern in the athletic department. A 2006 graduate of New York University, Katie was a four-year starter at shooting guard for the Violets and enjoyed an illustrious career.  A two-year team captain and leading scorer, Katie helped NYU capture coveted UAA titles in both 2004 and 2005 while reaching the NCAA Division III tournament Sweet Sixteen in 2004.  She was the recipient of the President's Award for academic achievement at NYU.
    Katie spent the 2009-10 and 2010-11 seasons as the primary assistant coach for Division II Nova Southeastern University in Florida after spending two years as a personal trainer in both the New York City and Miami, Fla. areas.  She also spent a year (2008-09) with AmeriCorps in New York as a Health Education and Adult Literacy (HEAL) project researcher.