DAVIS, Calif. – UC Davis Women's Basketball head coach Jennifer Gross has named Pele Gianotti as an assistant coach ahead of the 2022-23 season. Gianotti, one of the best to ever suit up for the Aggies, most recently played professionally overseas the last four years.
 
"I am so excited to have Pele back in Davis and on our staff," Gross said. "Pele embodies everything that we value in our program. She was a tremendous competitor during her career who was also an incredible teammate and leader. I am so thankful that our current Aggies will have the opportunity to learn from her every day."
 
During her four-year collegiate career as an Aggie, Gianotti never missed a game from freshman to senior season, breaking Samantha Meggison's school record (123) and breaking Gross' mark for consecutive games played (119). Gianotti played the second-most minutes of any Aggie ever (1,020). She was named All-Big West Conference three times.
 
In her senior season where she also earned 2018 Big West Conference All-Tournament Team recognition, Gianotti helped the Aggies to Division I program record 28 wins while leading the team in rebounding (5.7 rpg) and ranking second on the team in scoring (11.0 ppg).
 
The 5-foot-11 forward, who was a driving force for the Aggie offense and defense, became the 19th player to reach 1,000 career points at UC Santa Barbara on Jan. 18, 2018, and finished her career ranked 11th on the all-time scoring list. Gianotti also wrapped up her career ranked 10th on the all-time rebounds list at 616.
 
Overseas, Gianotti played 65 games across four seasons with three different teams – Heidelberg, T71 and most recently, the Rheinland Lions. In four years, Gianotti won three league championships, two in Germany and one in Luxembourg.
 
The native of Myrtle Creek, Ore. graduated from UC Davis in 2018 with a bachelor's degree in political science.