Top Women's Coaches, Castelli Nears 300

Here's a trivia question about MAAC women's basketball ...

What three coaches have won the most games while coaching a conference team?

And, the answer is ...

1) Mike Granelli, the former had coach at Saint Peter's.

Granelli recorded 483 victories while the Peahens were a MAAC member, from the league's inaugural women's season in 1981-82 through the 2003-04 season. Granelli retired after his last season at the Jersey City, N.J., school.

Overall, he had 607 career victories. All of those came at Saint Peter's, including nine seasons before the formation of the MAAC.

2) Dianne Nolan, the former head coach at Fairfield.

Nolan recorded 434 victories while Fairfield was a MAAC member, from 1981-82 through the 2006-07 seasons.

Overall, she had 517 career coaching victories over 33 seasons including five at St. Francis of N.Y. and two at Fairfield before it moved to the Division I level and joined the MAAC. She is currently an assistant coach with the Yale women's program.

3) Gina Castelli, the current head coach at Siena.

Castelli has 299 career victories. She is one game into her 20th season with the Saints. Victory No. 300 could come tonight (Friday) when Siena hosts Eastern Michigan.

Castelli has never been a head coach at any other school. She was an assistant for a season at Siena (1989-90) before moving into the top spot for the 1990-91 season. At the time she was the youngest Division I coach in the country.