After more than four decades in coaching and 26 seasons as a head coach at the Division I level, Rick Pietri has announced his retirement from coaching.
Pietri spent the past 13 seasons leading the Jacksonville State women’s basketball program, compiling 197 victories and becoming the program’s all-time winningest coach. Over a career that included more than 400 wins, Pietri established himself as one of the most respected coaches in women’s college basketball and one of the most accomplished in the state of Alabama.
“After 26 consecutive years as a head Division I women’s basketball coach, and 39 years coaching men, boys and women, it is time for me to step away,” said Pietri. “It has been one of the greatest privileges of my life to serve as the head women’s basketball coach at Jacksonville State University. I was so blessed to have the support of my devoted wife, Suzanne and my sons, Wesley and Jordan who endured family sacrifices that came with being the family of a Division I coach. As my life takes on a new path, I understand clearly how fortunate I have been. I will forever be grateful to have experienced life as a Jax State Gamecock.”
“During his 13 seasons at Jacksonville State, Rick helped guide our program through an important era and led one of the most successful seasons in our Division I history with the 2021–22 team,” said Jax State Vice President for Athletics Greg Seitz. “We are grateful for the leadership and dedication he brought to Jax State and wish Rick and his family all the best as he begins this next chapter in retirement.”
“On behalf of Jacksonville State University, I want to thank Coach Rick Pietri for his outstanding service and leadership of our women’s basketball program,” said Jacksonville State University President Dr. Don Killingsworth. “Throughout his career, which includes more than 400 victories and a distinguished place among the winningest coaches in Alabama women’s basketball history, Rick has represented Jax State with integrity, professionalism, and a genuine commitment to the development of our student-athletes. We are grateful for the impact he has made on our university and appreciate the strong foundation in which he leaves the program. We wish Rick and his family all the best as he begins this next chapter.”
During the 2021-22 season, the Gamecocks posted a 24-8 record, won the ASUN West Division championship, advanced to the ASUN Championship game and earned a berth in the WNIT. The 24 victories were the most for the program since 1991 and the highest total during the Division I era.
Pietri is one of just five head coaches in NCAA Division I women’s basketball history to be the winningest head coach at two programs. Prior to arriving at Jax State, he recorded 220 victories during his tenure at South Alabama. He also had a decorated career as a high school boys coach in Mobile, posting a 148-51 record over six seasons with four at B.C. Rain where they won the 1997 5A State Championship and finished as runner-up twice, and two at St. Paul’s.
When the New Orleans native arrived at Jax State in 2013, the program had won just one game the previous season. In his first year, Pietri engineered one of the most dramatic turnarounds in NCAA women’s basketball, guiding the Gamecocks to 14 wins and a run to the Ohio Valley Conference Tournament semifinals.
Pietri’s 417 career victories rank second all-time among collegiate women’s basketball head coaches in Alabama history, trailing only Auburn’s legendary Joe Ciampi.
“Rick Pietri has had a tremendous impact on women’s basketball at Jax State and throughout the state of Alabama,” said Seitz. “He built programs the right way—through discipline, strong defensive principles, and a genuine commitment to the development of his student-athletes.”
Jacksonville State will immediately begin a national search for the program’s next head women’s basketball coach.
“I would like to thank former President Bill Meehan and former Athletic Director Warren ‘Moose’ Koegel for choosing me to take over the Gamecock women’s basketball program in June of 2013,” said Pietri. “I also want to thank former President John Beehler and our current President Don Killingsworth, along with my longtime Athletic Director Greg Seitz, for their continued support over the years.
“I’ve always been extremely grateful for our athletic administration, our academic and athletic support staff, the sports medicine department, as well as the many student managers who have worked tirelessly behind the scenes during my time here,” Pietri added. “To the assistant coaches who have been invaluable to our mission of running a quality program that our community can be proud of, I am forever in your debt.
“And most importantly, to the players who have given all of themselves to the academic and athletic endeavors of the Gamecock women’s basketball program—thank you for choosing me to be your leader.”
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