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Angela Ortega is in her first season as a member of the Charlotte coaching staff. She joined the coaching staff after spending the previous 15 years as a member of the University of North Texas coaching staff. Charlotte head coach Karen Aston and Ortega both served on the same North Texas coaching staff under head coach Tina Slinker from 1996-98.
"I am so excited to have Angela join our staff at Charlotte," Aston said. "I worked alongside her at the University of North Texas and have since then, followed her career. Everyone in the business respects Angela and admires her work ethic and ability to connect with young people. I feel very fortunate to have been able to convince her to come to Charlotte. I know she shares the same vision as we all do about 49er basketball and will do what it takes for this program to succeed."
Ortega has spent the last 15 years helping build North Texas into not only one of the top programs in the Sun Belt Conference but a nationally recognized program. As the recruiting coordinator at North Texas, she played an integral role in recruiting seven All-Conference players including Sun Belt Conference Player of the Year Jalie Mitchell and Sun Belt Defensive Player of the Year Rosalyn Reades. In 2005, she was responsible for recruiting the best class in school history.
She was not only in charge of recruiting but she was also responsible for coaching the guards, opponent scouting, served as the liaison between the basketball program and the athletic academic center. She was the director of North Texas summer women's basketball camps as well.
Prior to joining the coaching staff at North Texas, Ortega spent the 1991-92 scholastic year as a tenth grade English teacher at Mabank High School in Mabank, Texas. She was an assistant coach for the basketball, volleyball and track teams at Mabank.
Before Mabank High School, she spent two seasons (1989-91) as a graduate assistant coach at her alma mater Northwestern State in Natchitoches, Louisiana.
A Tyler, Texas native, Ortega after a successful two-year playing career at Northwestern State graduated with a bachelor's degree in physical education and a minor in English in 1989.
As a two-year starter, she helped Northwestern State win 38 games and earn a berth in the NCAA Tournament in her two seasons on the team. She finished her career as the school's 10th all-time leading free throw shooter.
Ortega transferred to Northwestern State after two seasons at Trinity Valley Community College. She helped Trinity Valley climb to number two in the national rankings. She earned Kodak All-District and all-region honors as a sophomore after averaging 15 points and 7.3 rebounds per game on a team that went 26-5 on the season.
"I am extremely excited to be a part of such a great university and women's basketball program at Charlotte," Ortega said. "The potential of this program is unlimited and I look forward to the opportunity."
