Brooklyn, NY----After 20 seasons guiding the Brooklyn College Women's Basketball program, Alex Lang will be stepping down as Head Women's Basketball Coach, ending a historic era for the Bulldogs. Lang will continue with Brooklyn College in his role as Associate Director of Athletics. The Bulldogs are coming off of completing a three-peat as CUNYAC Champions, making their fourth trip to the NCAA tournament in five seasons, and extending their win-streak to 46 games against conference opponents. Lang ends his 20-season coaching career with 340 wins, the all-time leader in CUNYAC women's basketball. Lang's legacy puts him in an elite class of coaches not only at Brooklyn College and the CUNYAC, but in the entire NCAA.
A replacement will be announced in the near future.
"When I arrived at BC in 2002, I was determined to turn the program around and achieve greatness," said Lang. "Seeing those goals achieved has been amazing and brought me a sense of accomplishment and pride, however, it is the people who I have worked with, coached and mentored over the years, and the memories that we share, that I cherish most of all. Stepping down from coaching is a difficult decision, but I am confident that the program will continue to flourish. What we have built here is bigger than me, it is the culmination of so many incredible student-athletes and coaches who sacrificed for the good of the team and made Brooklyn College Women's Basketball what it is today."
Arriving on the Bedford Avenue campus following a short stint as a women's basketball assistant coach at CCNY, Lang took over a program that was winless the previous season. By the 2004-05 season, Brooklyn had surpassed double-figures in victories. 2011-12 marked the start of a remarkable ten-season run where the program won 20 games or better. In 2018, the Bulldogs won their first CUNYAC title since 1980. Brooklyn would go on to win three of the next four CUNYAC Championships. Marking another milestone during his tenure, the 2021-22 Bulldogs won the program's first ever NCAA Tournament game with a 70-57 victory over Emmanuel, handing them just their second loss of the season. He has coached three CUNYAC Player of the Year winners, WBCA All-Americans, and numerous conference and regional all-stars during his tenure.
"Being in the region for the last twenty years, I have watched Alex build the Women's Basketball program up from scratch and to see where the program was and where he has taken it is amazing," newly appointed Brooklyn College Director of Athletics, Erik Smiles would comment. "It is one of the best rebuilding jobs I have ever seen take place during my career."
Not only building a culture of success on the basketball court, Coach Lang's teams have excelled away from it. His program regularly boasts one of the highest team grade point averages in the BC Department of Athletics and numerous student-athletes have garnered conference, regional, and national academic awards.
"Not only has Alex built the Women's Basketball program into a CUNYAC and regional power, but he has helped mentor so many Bulldog student-athletes that have come through his program and the bond he has created with them is evident by his former student-athletes that fill his coaching staff and are a presence at the women's basketball games," Smiles would go on to say. "Not only were Alex's teams talented and well-coached, but the program's culture is one of the best I have ever seen."
In addition to coaching, Lang has served as a Brooklyn College Athletics administrator for over twenty years, currently as the Associate Director of Athletics. He has held many roles in the department over the years including Sports Information Director where he maximized school and local media's interest in Brooklyn College Athletics, landing increased publicity for many of the teams and athletes, and as Compliance Coordinator. Never hesitant to fill a need of the department's, Lang also coached the Women's Cross Country from 2007-12, leading the 2008 team to a CUNYAC title, and was named conference Coach of the Year.
" I thank all of our former players and coaches for their dedication, but would like to especially thank our two longest tenured assistant coaches Stan Fevrine and Amalea Sideris, who have each coached with me for more than a decade, and have been like family. I also would like to thank Bruce Filosa for giving me the opportunity to lead this program."
Coach Lang's Legacy
- 340-210 Career Record.
- 340 wins – Most career wins for a coach, CUNY Athletic Conference Women's Basketball
- From 2008-2023 – 292-109 record – 14 consecutive winning seasons.
- 10 consecutive 20-win seasons (2011-2022)
- 4 CUNYAC Championships (2018, 2020, 2022, 2023)
- 4 NCAA Tournament appearances (2018, 2020, 2022, 2023)
- Only NCAA Tournament Win in program history (2022).
- 2 ECAC Tournament Championships (2015, 2016)
- 10 CUNYAC Championship Game Appearances
- 8 CUNYAC Regular Season Titles
- 4 ECAC Championship Game Appearances
- 10 ECAC Tournament Appearances
- 8 CUNYAC Coach of the Year Awards
- 2018 Metropolitan Basketball Writers Coach of the Year Award.
- 2023 ECAC Coach of the Year Award
- Currently serving on NCAA Women's Basketball Rules Committee.
What They Are Saying About Coach Lang
Coach Alex is someone who has challenged me to be a more complete basketball player & has been vital to my development from a teenager to a young adult both on and off the court. A great coach, but an even better person! It is rare to encounter coaches who care about their players just as much as they care about winnign. Our next coach will have big shoes to fill!
- Chanel Jemmott | Brooklyn College Women's Basketball All-Time Leading Scorer, three-time CUNYAC Tournament Most Valuable Player
Eighteen years ago, Coach welcomed me into the Brooklyn College Family. It has been an amazing journey, and I am so grateful for everything I have learned, not only as a player but most recently as a coach. Throughout all of the above you have not only been a coach, but have become a part of my "Big Fat Greek" family. Thank you for everything you have done, not only for me, but for my brother as well. Wishing you only success in the future. You will be truly missed on the sideline! - Amalea Sideris | Brooklyn College Women's Basketball Assistant Coach, Former Brooklyn College Player (2005-09)
A little over twenty years ago, we were fortunate to have Alex come onto our staff as Assistant Director of Recreation, Intramurals, and Athletics, Director of Sports Information and Head Women's Basketball Coach. I remember it like it was yesterday. From the very beginning, his enthusiasm and passion were contagious. He made an immediate positive impact on our program and staff. The success we've had, especially with women's basketball, would not have happened without his hard work, honesty, and integrity. As a recruiter, he was second to none. His love for Brooklyn College and our students were evident every time he met student-athletes and their parents. That is how he built our team into the CUNYAC powerhouse it is today. His personal achievements and team achievements are unsurpassed in our Conference. We became good friends over the years. So much so, that he and his wife, Judy, made sure their first son, Russell, was born on my birthday. LOL. Alex is just an incredible person. His character is impeccable. He is compassionate, and loves his family, his team, and Brooklyn College. I'm honored to call him a friend and colleague. I wish him well in all his future endeavors. - Bruce Filosa | Brooklyn College Director of Athletics, Recreation, and Intramurals (1992 - 2023)
I have known Alex for about 18 years. I am very proud of what coach Lang has accomplished in his coaching career. He is a great coach and recruiter. The game will miss him. He took over a program that was at the bottom and now he leaves on top. His legacy will continue on forever. I have had the privilege to be a friend of coach Lang and also, had the chance to coach against him. - Kevin Clifford | Roberts Wesleyan University Head Women's Basketball Coach
I have certainly seen a lot of great coaching and and team performances in CUNYAC and beyond, but the level of sustained excellence on a national scale for a program is a great indicator of the leadership involved - that is exactly the kind of program Alex Lang built up at Brooklyn. Wishing him the best in working with new AD, Erik Smiles, on raising the bar for all of the Bulldogs programs - he clearly knows how! - Zak Ivkovic | York College Director of Athletics, Executive Director of CUNYAC (2003-23)
Coach Alex Lang has truly established himself as one of the legendary coaches to be a part of the CUNYAC. What he has done to elevate both Brooklyn College and the CUNY Athletic Conference as one of the top programs in the country has been extraordinary. A leader by example, I will certainly miss our battles on the sidelines. Alex is not just an opponent, but he is a friend. Best of luck in his future endeavors. - Eric Harrison | Lehman College Head Women's Basketball Coach
Brooklyn College Women's Basketball began it's rise to one of the best women's basketball programs in the country from the day that Alex Lang took over in 2002. Coaching side by side Alex, and continuing to watch him after I left Brooklyn, he has created the ideal college program - one that has a championship pedigree in all aspect, not only the winning games and championships ,but in the way his teams were together in every sense of the word. His teaching of the game was as excellent as his ability to recruit and motivate. Players wanted to come to Brooklyn, even if Alex didn't make the first phone call. That tells you a lot about Coach Lang and the program. Congratulations on an awesome coaching career; you have left the Brooklyn women's basketball program in an amazing place. -Steve Podias | Former Brooklyn College Men's Basketball Head Coach, All-Time Wins Leader (1994-2014)
Simply put, Alex Lang and Brooklyn College has set the standard for excellence in our league and Division 3 basketball. He brought the women's basketball program at Brooklyn from literally zero wins the season before he took over to the pinnacle and has sustained a championship level of play for over a decade that few programs in our league can compare. I know the CUNY Basketball Conference and all of women's college basketball will miss him on the sidelines! - Jamie Angeli | Associate Director of Athletics, Former Head Women's Basketball Coach, The City College of New York
Alex and I overlapped our CUNY coaching, administrative and teaching careers. With a front-row seat, I witnessed Coach Lang build a highly successful women's basketball program as well as he had a positive impact on the entire athletic program at Brooklyn College. Coaching in CUNY is certainly more than just coaching basketball, and Alex Lang for more than twenty years was able to create his secret sauce to success. He studied the game while always staying one step ahead of his competitors. Alex is humble and heartfelt, he has integrity and class, but don't let that big smile fool you, he is super competitive. It was a pleasure to coach against Alex, his teams were always well-prepared and his players played with intensity and displayed sportsmanship. I will miss Alex pacing the sidelines and rubbing the top of his head planning his next move. I wish him all the best on his journey. - Jackee Meadow | Former Hunter College and CCNY Head Women's Basketball Coach, Former Athletic Directory CCNY
It's been an honor to have been around Alex's journey here at Brooklyn. My 1st year as a student-athlete was his 1st year as Head Women's Basketball Coach. Seeing his commitment and dedication to his program's success has been instrumental for me as I transitioned from player to coach. He has laid down a foundation and culture which will be carried on for years to come. - Jeff Jean-Baptiste | Head Men's Basketball Basketball Coach, Brooklyn College