Mullen adds former Siena coach Castelli to UAlbany women's basketball coaching staff

Michael Kelly, The Daily Gazette, Schenectady, N.Y.
·2 min read
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Aug. 3—ALBANY — UAlbany women's basketball head coach Colleen Mullen added Gina Castelli, who coached at Siena for two-plus decades, to the Great Danes' coaching staff, the school's athletic department announced Tuesday.

Castelli retired earlier this year as Le Moyne's head coach after eight seasons. At UAlbany, Castelli will serve as the program's executive coach for program development and player relations, a role that is "strictly [an] administrative position" with the Great Danes.

"I am excited to be able to work with coach Mullen who I have watched excel both as a player and coach," Castelli said in UAlbany's press release. "I am looking forward to working with her passionate staff and talented team. I am grateful to Colleen for creating this unique coaching position that allows me to use my experience, give back to the coaching profession, and help our Great Danes win."

"We are thrilled to announce that Gina will be joining our UAlbany family," Mullen said. "She has been a mentor and friend to me for more than 20 years. Gina embodies all the qualities we value in our Great Dane program. She is a proven winner, a relentless competitor and an enthusiastic leader. Gina built an extremely successful career in this community, and anyone that knows her admires her work ethic, character, and community engagement. I know her experience and knowledge will be invaluable to our young team and our coaching staff. I am so excited to welcome 'Coach G' back to the Capital Region, this time in the Purple and Gold."

Castelli spent 22 seasons as the head coach of Siena, earning a program-best 336 victories in a span of seasons that concluded in 2012. At Siena, Castelli was named MAAC Coach of the Year on five occasions, and led the school's team to seven regular-season MAAC titles and one MAAC tournament championship.

At Le Moyne, Castelli's teams achieved six winning seasons, and won a program-best 26 games in the 2018-19 campaign.

A Canisius College graduate, Castelli's career has also included coaching roles at Marquette and Rhode Island.