Going from a star player to a coach does not come with an instruction manual.

Ciara Gregory spent two years learning the ropes as a graduate assistant at Charlotte where not that long ago, she was breaking 3-point records and sparking scoring runs in the 49ers’ backcourt.

Never frozen with stage fright when she played, the Jeannette graduate is adapting and learning something new every day this year in her first season as a full-time assistant with the 49ers as she tries to ascend the coaching ladder.

“It can be really challenging and at the same time, really rewarding,” Gregory said. “It’s amazing some days and there are many sleepless nights. But it all works out.”

As for the rewarding part, Gregory and the Conference USA champion 49ers (22-9) are back in the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2008-09.

They are a No. 14 seed and will open against No. 3 Indiana (22-8) at 1:30 p.m. Saturday in Bloomington in the Bridgeport Region.

“I wasn’t able to make the tournament when I played, so this is special,” Gregory said. “It’s about the experience for the girls. I am happy for them. This season hasn’t been easy. We’ve dealt with adversity. We played three top-25 teams. It’s been really challenging but the girls have come in ready to work.”

There is nothing like it ???? #Thankful #NotDoneYet #CHARLOTTE ???? pic.twitter.com/qeZSEnZahP

— Ciara Gregory (@cgregory1_) March 15, 2022

Gregory, 27, watched and learned as a grad assistant, doing a lot of the grunt work to help keep the program moving forward under head coach Cara Consuegra.

The benefits have come fast in her first season as a regular, paid assistant.

“Winning a conference championship and a tournament championship, I am grateful and blessed,” Gregory said. “It’s been tough. We had one game that went to four overtimes. We had a target on our backs and we got everybody’s best game.”

After earning a bachelor’s degree in psychology with a minor in American studies, Gregory stuck around and earned a master’s last spring in arts and liberal studies with a focus on coaching, leadership and sports.

No woman in Charlotte history made more 3-pointers (235). She has a single-game record with nine 3s.

Gregory, the girls’ all-time scoring leader at Jeannette with 2,130 points, scored 1,031 at Charlotte.

A shooter’s helper, she works mainly with guards but pitches in a number of ways on game days.

“I work to get the shooters back in shape,” she said. “I try to help them get their confidence back. The freshmen can be sponges. They want to listen and be coached.”

Gregory has forged a bond with Charlotte and feels like it is where she belongs.

“Charlotte has given me so much,” she said. “I want to give way more in return. I am always thankful for the program and Cara Consuegra. Charlotte is home to me.”

Consuegra was the Conference USA Coach of the year, while the 49ers also produced the conference player of the year in fifth-year guard Octavia Jett-Wilson and the defensive player of the year in forward Keke McKinney, another fifth-year player.

A Westmorelan County player also will get to experience March Madness with Charlotte.

Sophomore Cali Konek, who attended four high schools, including Southmoreland and Franklin Regional, is a reserve guard.

The 5-foot-7 Konek opted out of basketball in 2020-21 because of covid-19 after playing in 24 games as a freshman.

She has 11 appearances this season and has totaled 277 minutes.

Another county player in the NCAA Tournament is American University senior Laura Graytok, a Latrobe graduate.

Another opt-out player last season, Graytok has played in eight games in 2021-22 with one start.

American (23-8) is the 14th seed in the Wichita Regional and will play No. 3 Michigan (22-6) at 3:30 p.m. Saturday in Ann Arbor.

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