After Le Moyne women’s basketball coach Gina Castelli retired, the work began to find her replacement, and a familiar face became the perfect fit.

“There ya go, fist bump, you got it," Mary Grimes said as her players lined up for fist bumps after sprints.

What You Need To Know

  • Mary Grimes is the new head coach of the Le Moyne women's basketball team

  • She is the first African-American head coach in Le Moyne athletics history

  • Grimes has been an assistant at Xavier, Albany, Syracuse and Le Moyne

  • Grimes also played at Siena

There’s no place like the Heights for Mary Grimes.

“I love green and gold," Grimes said.  

It’s not just the colors that keep her coming back.

“The people,” Grimes said. “It really is the people. I know a lot of the administrators and the faculty on campus and it’s just like home.”

This is the third time she’ll be on the bench at Le Moyne, but this time, not as an assistant, but a head coach.

“I’m really excited,” Grimes said. “They’ve been working really hard this preseason. I’m just ready to get going and see what we have and put everything together.”

She’s not just the bench boss. She’s the first African-American head coach in Le Moyne’s 75-year athletics history.

“I’m not even 75,” she said. “This is crazy. Yeah it’s really something. I think they’re putting their money where their mouth is.”

Her stops as an assistant at Le Moyne, SU, Albany and Xavier, mixed with her playing days with the Saints, have prepared her for this gig.

“It’s very goal-driven,” Grimes said. “You heard today, what’s our goal? We’re running champions, but what does that entail. How do we get a championship? Beat Adelphi, have an undefeated home season, so it’s really purpose driven.”

Now all that’s left...

“Cut down some nets, that’s what I’m talking about,” Grimes said. “Cut down some nets. I practice every night in my sleep.”