Two-time NAIA All-American guard Caelyn Orlandi has been hired as assistant women’s basketball coach at Lewis-Clark State College, Warrior coach Brian Orr announced Thursday.
Orlandi led the Warriors to a 35-2 mark this past season and a runner-up finish in the NAIA national tournament.
Orlandi replaces Aubree Henrie, who spent two years on the Warrior bench but recently was accepted an assistant coach position at Utah Valley University, an NCAA Division 1 program and member of the Western Athletic Conference.
“We are really excited to have Caelyn join our coaching staff,” Orr said. “She brings a ton of real-life experience which she can share with our team. Her personal growth and success as a player are invaluable. The fact that she knows our system and expectations is a huge advantage and will enable her to make a quicker impact with the development of our players.”
Orlandi had an outstanding career at LCSC, capped by being an NAIA first-team All-American. She finished the season leading the NAIA in total assists (261), assists per game (7.05), and assist to turnover ratio (3.6:1). She also broke the school record for most assists during a season and in a career (634).
She averaged in double figures scoring all four seasons and 13.1 points per game in her career. As a senior, she averaged 14.4 points, 1.4 steals, and 4.0 rebounds per game and hit 85.6 percent from the foul line, 44.1 percent from the field and 37.2 percent from the 3-point line.
Orlandi was the Frontier Conference’s Player of the Year as a senior as the Warriors enjoyed their highest finish ever at the national tournament. LCSC won its first 23 games to start the season and went 17-1 in FC play as it captured both the conference’s regular-season and tournament titles for the second consecutive year.
She was a first-team all-league selection and a second-team All-American as a junior, a second-team all-league performer as a sophomore. A Coeur d’Alene High product, she was the conference’s Freshman of the Year her first season at LCSC.
She finished her career with 1,766 points, which ranks fifth on the LCSC all-time scoring list. Her 13.1 points-per-game-average is fourth on the all-time list, and her 622 total field goals are fifth. She made 199 3-pointers (sixth all-time), 323 free throws (seventh all-time), and shot 84.8 percent at the free-throw line (third all-time).
As well as leaving her mark on the court, Orlandi was feted for her work in the classroom. She earned both Frontier Conference and NAIA Scholar-Athlete distinction both her junior and senior seasons. She graduated in May with a degree in exercise science.
“Everything seems to happen for a reason and even though coach Henrie’s departure came earlier than we had planned, Caelyn has actually been preparing to become a coach for the last four years and we feel fortunate she gets to start her career as a Warrior,” Orr said.
Tagged with: Assistant Coach NAIA
