caldwell-magazine-spring-2015

CALDWELLATHLETICS
Kristina Danella Returns
Home to Coach at Caldwell
This past spring, Assistant Vice President
and Director of Athletics Mark A. Corino
and the athletics department had a key
position to fill. Linda Cimino, Caldwell
University’s winningest women’s basketball
coach, left to be the head coach at
Binghamton University after eight years
and 128 victories at Caldwell. In his search
for a replacement, Corino looked for some
of the same qualities Cimino displayed,
such as youthful enthusiasm, a strong work
ethic and a genuine love for the game.
He found Kristina Danella, a native of
Manalapan, New Jersey, who spent last
season as the head coach at Division II
Urbana University in Ohio. Danella led
the Blue Knights to their most victories
since 1998, compiling an 18-10 record
and finishing fourth in the Mountain East
Conference with a 14-8 mark in league
play. Urbana also achieved two firsts for
the program with Danella in charge when
the Blue Knights appeared in the Atlantic
Region rankings and senior guard DeVonyea
Johnson was named to the all-Atlantic
Region first team at the end of the season.
The experience gained in that one year
was invaluable. She learned how to run a
competitive program, she was exposed to
the inner workings of a Division II athletics
department and she began to define her
coaching style. More important, at least
from Caldwell’s perspective, is that she
found out how badly she wanted to coach
closer to home, in New Jersey.
“I’m from here and all my family is here, so
it was a no-brainer for me to come back,”
Danella said. “I’m familiar with the Shore
Conference and the talent they have there
as well as in other areas of the state. Being
away was a great experience, but it made
me realize that I really want to be in New
Jersey. I’m a Jersey girl. What can I say”
Danella starred at Red Bank Catholic High
School, leaving as the school’s all-time
leading scorer and rebounder with 1,773
points and 1,156 rebounds. A three-time
all-state first team honoree, she was a twotime
Shore Conference Player of the Year
and the 2007 Asbury Park Press Player of
the Year. After high school, Danella went
Caldwell women’s basketball coach Kristina Danella (second from left) with her assistants: Victoria Ault, Tim Nellegar ’00
and Cheslea Loscalzo ’13.
to the University of Massachusetts and
was named to the Atlantic 10 Conference’s
all-Rookie Team as a freshman. She spent
two years at UMass before transferring to
Marist College, where she helped the Red
Foxes win two MAAC regular-season and
tournament crowns while playing in two
NCAA tournaments.
“We are ecstatic to
see that Kristina
is going home to
New Jersey to be
the head coach at
Caldwell College,”
said Marist head
coach Brian
Giorgis, who has
a 304-87 record
in 12 seasons
at Marist. “She
has risen up the
coaching ladder in
a very short period
of time and will
make an immediate
impact for the
Cougars this
season.”
Danella, who
also coordinates
the Student-
Athlete Advisory
24 CALDWELLMAGAZINE