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PAGE 5B March 2026
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 "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. Jax State's Women's Coach Rick Pietri Retires
Photo By Brandon K. Pierce, The Sports Ledger Jacksonville State's Jaye Nash (#3) attempts a layup against New Mexico State during the 2026 Conference USA Men's Basketball Tournament in Huntsville on Monday, March 10. The Gamecocks concluded the season with a 68-63 loss to the Aggies.
Photo By Brandon K. Pierce, The Sports Ledger Crossville's Kaylee Balcazar (#32) in action during a recent varsity girls soccer game against Collinsville. All-Star Basketball Results The Alabama girls’ domination in the Alabama-Mississippi All-Star Classic has never been more evident than in the first half of a 93-65 rout in the 2026 game at Mississippi College’s A.E. Woods Coliseum. Alabama’s team, which won the annual all-star clash with Mississippi for the ninth straight year improving to 22-14 in the 36-year series, dominated on offense and defense while spreading the ball out offensively resulting in six players scoring in double figures and two others scoring nine points. Alabama’s girls forced nine first-quarter turnovers to build a 27-point lead by halftime, 52-25. The defensive pressure interrupted any offense the hosts tried to run – regardless of the five Alabama All-Stars on the court. “I think our girls did an outstanding job on offense and defense,” Alabama All-Star head coach Blake Smith of Montgomery’s Trinity Presbyterian. “They were able to adjust on the go which really made a difference.” Montgomery Catholic’s Hannah Smith, who was selected the Alabama MVP, scored 12 points, all in the first half, and finished with 10 rebounds. Her defense inside, along with the strong play of Hoover center Khloe Ford and Park Crossing forward Maliyah Meeks, limited Mississippi’s second-shot chances and forced the host team to shoot just 36.8% from the field for the game. The defense was especially smothering in the first half with Mississippi turning the ball over 21 times. Mississippi finished with 28 total turnovers while Alabama had 22. Albertville High School guard Lani Smallwood, announced earlier this week as the Alabama Gatorade Girls’ Basketball Player of the Year, and Hoover's Khloe Ford, the Class 7A state tournament MVP at last week’s AHSAA state tourney, dominated outside and inside in the first half with eight points apiece. Both finished with 12 points each. Ford had seven rebounds and Smallwood had four assists and two steals. BOY'S ALL-STAR GAME The 36th annual Alabama-Mississippi Classic boys’ all-star game turned out to be just the opposite of the girls’ game as Mississippi won the boys’ contest 98-79. Mississippi’s All-Stars took advantage of 15 Alabama All-Star turnovers, out- rebounded the visitors 26-18 and limited the visitors to just 11 field goals in the first half to take a 47-27 lead at halftime. Alabama’s All-Stars were also 1-of-9 at the foul line. Alabama’s All-Stars, coached by Hoover’s Scott Ware and Anthony Hayes of Jackson, saw the Mississippi lead move to 30 points before rallying quickly with just over 12 minutes remaining when Jackson’s Joe Taylor delivered a dunk, Dothan’s Delijah Coleman made a layup and Oxford’s Jaylen Alexander nailed a 3-pointer to trim the deficit to 67-47. Alabama, however, had to go to a smaller lineup with 6-foot-10 Jackson Sheffield of Hoover and 6-7 Caiden Ricks of Austin with four fouls each, and the visitors could find no answer to Mississippi’s crashing offense inside. Mississippi went inside at will with Alabama’s defense having no answers stretching the lead back out to 30 points. Alabama’s Milton Jones of Fairfield drilled a pointer with just over six minutes remaining to cut the margin back to 20 at 84-64. Alabama’s All-Stars outscored Mississippi 15-14 the rest of the way to cut the final margin to 19 points. Alabama actually outscored Mississippi 52-51 in the second half. Pascagoula’s Blake Nettles scored 16 points and grabbed eight rebounds for Mississippi to earn MVP honors for the hosts. Oxford’s Alexander, who finished with 13 points, six rebounds, five steals and three assists, was named Alabama’s MVP. He finished 3-of-9 from the 3-point arc. Jones led Alabama’s scoring with 15 points.
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