Head coach Jennifer Gross announced the addition of former standout Aggie Pele Gianotti to the women’s basketball coaching staff as an assistant coach ahead of the 2022-23 season.
She was recently named Director of Basketball Operations ahead of the 2023-24 season.
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.
