Karen Langeland (2022) - Hall of Fame - Michigan State University Athletics

Karen Langeland

Induction:
2022

Karen Langeland
Women's Basketball/Administration (1976-2012)
Grand Rapids, Mich.
MSU Athletics Hall of Fame Class of 2022

HIGHLIGHTS:

1987-88 Big Ten Coach of the Year
1990-91 WCBA Coach of the Year
1996-97 Big Ten Team Champion
Career coaching record of 376-290
Guided teams to three NCAA Tournaments and Two WNIT appearances
Coached 39 All-Big Ten Selections, One All-American and seven Academic All-America selections
Every player who remained in her program through her senior year graduated
Was the sport administrator for eleven teams during her 12-year administrative career

HALL OF FAME FEATURE: CLASS OF 2022

Karen Langeland enters the Michigan State Athletics Hall of Fame for her work not only during a successful 24-season tenure on the basketball sideline as the head coach, but also 12 years as an associate athletic director, lending her expertise and knowledge to 11 additional Spartan programs as their sport administrator.

"I have an overwhelming sense of gratitude for everything that came from my time at Michigan State," said Langeland, who retired from the University in 2012 and now lives on the west side of the state. "I enjoyed the 24 years I spent coaching the amazing young women who passed through our basketball program. I thoroughly enjoyed being a part of the department as an administrator where I could not only continue to watch student-athletes grow and develop, but also our coaches and ancillary staff members. My 36 years with Michigan State were incredibly fulfilling, and truly, I feel beyond lucky to be a Spartan for life."

Langeland joined the Spartan staff as the third women's basketball coach in program history in 1976, hired by Dr. Nell Jackson to coach the program in the early years as women's athletics were evolving after 1972's Title IX decision. Over the next 24 years, she built a first-class basketball program dedicated to achieving excellence on the court as well as educating and preparing her players for the challenges of tomorrow. During her tenure at MSU, Spartan basketball alumnae went on to impressive careers in education, medicine, law, finance, athletic administration, and coaching.

On the court, Langeland guided Spartan basketball teams to 376 overall wins, a Big Ten title, three NCAA Tournaments, two Women's National Invitational Tournament appearances, 17 winning seasons and four 20-win campaigns. In those 24 years, there were 39 All-Big Ten selections, one All-American, and seven Academic All-America selections. She guided the squad to 24 victories over ranked opponents, was named District Coach of the Year in 1991 and the Big Ten Coach of the Year in 1988. Seven of her athletes went on to play professionally, including two drafted by the WNBA.

In 1996-97, Langeland reached a pinnacle in her career after guiding Michigan State to a share of its first-ever Big Ten title with a 12-4 record in the conference. The Spartans, who finished the year with a 22-8 overall mark, also made their second-straight NCAA Tournament appearance and their third overall.

In 1989, the Calvin College graduate became just the third coach in the history of MSU men's and women's basketball to reach the 200-win plateau with a victory over Michigan. In 1993, she reached the 250-win mark with a victory over Northwestern, while midway through the 1995-96 season she reached another coaching milestone with her 300th career victory as the Spartans downed Northwestern, 94-90.

Equally as important as the victories is the success of Langeland's players in the classroom. Every player who remained in her program through her senior year graduated, while student-athletes earned Academic All-Big Ten, Academic All-District, and CoSIDA Academic All-America honors on 40 occasions.

Another highlight of Langeland's career was her selection as the coach of the 1994 Big Ten All-Star team that toured England and Scotland. She led the all-stars to a perfect 6-0 record, the first men's or women's conference all-star team to go undefeated. Langeland again was chosen to coach the Big Ten All-Star team in 1996, and her second squad duplicated the success of the first, posting a 6-0 record during its tour of Denmark and Sweden.

During her coaching career, Langeland was an active member of the Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) and served on the Naismith Player of the Year Selection Committee and Kodak All-America Selection Committee. She also served on the NCAA Midwest Region Committee for the Division I Women's Basketball Championship and was a voter on the USA Today/ESPN Coaches Top 25 poll.

"All coaches remember wins and losses, and probably remember losses more because they eat at you," laughed Langeland. "But for me, the enduring joy from my position was watching as the young women came into our program and grow as individuals. Not just growth as a player over four years – I mean growth into adulthood as well. It was wonderful to see what they did with their education and what professional paths they chose. Hearing from my former players, hearing about their chosen careers, listening to stories about their families, their children, their professional ambitions – it is always a joy to hear from them."

After retiring from coaching, Langeland was given the opportunity by then-athletic director Clarence Underwood to move into athletics administration. In addition to being a sport supervisor, she spent 12 years as the director of the MSU summer camps program while serving as a liaison to the MSU booster clubs. She oversaw the MSU Athletics Hall of Fame inductions.

Over those 12 years in administration, Langeland served as the sport administrator for rowing, field hockey, men's and women's tennis, gymnastics, men's and women's cross country, men's and women's track and field, and men's and women's swimming and diving.

"When I made the switch to the administrative side, I enjoyed learning about sports that I hadn't coached," she recalls. "I admired the coaches and their staffs and enjoyed learning about their individual coaching methods and specifics of their sports which were so different than basketball. It was so much fun to have these new experiences and enjoy their team successes."

Langeland began her coaching career at Kentwood High School in her native Grand Rapids, where she guided the basketball and track teams from 1973-75. She earned a bachelor's degree in education from Calvin College in 1970 and a master's degree from Michigan State in 1977. Joining the Spartan staff four years after the Title IX legislation was passed, Langeland had a front-row seat to much of the changing world of women's athletics.

"I played three-on-three halfcourt when I was in college," remembers Langeland. "Soon after I got into high school coaching, Title IX was a landmark decision and really changed a lot of things for women's opportunities in all levels of athletics, and I was thrilled to be a part of it. Those days weren't always easy, but I am proud that I was a part of making women's athletics more mainstream, more accessible, and hopefully, easier for women who wanted to compete.

"The changes I witnessed over the course of my career – it's hard to put into words just how impactful they were," she continued. "There's almost not a reasonable way to compare the landscape now compared to when I was coaching, let alone the additional changes in the 22 years I spent in administration and retirement. The coaches are paid more. The staff sizes are unrecognizable. The training and technology and sport science has evolved beyond measure.

"I loved each step forward. They were exciting. The game grew, and got better and better through each change that was implemented. I look forward to watching how these next chapters unfold as innovation and opportunity continues to change athletics."