The Jacksonville State Gamecocks are members of NCAA Division I and, as of the upcoming 2023–24 basketball season, compete in Conference USA (C-USA).
[3] After graduating from South Alabama, where he was manager of the men's basketball team from 1983 to 1987, Pietri began his coaching career as an assistant at St. Paul's High School in Covington, Louisiana.
After two season as boys' coach at St. Paul's High School in Mobile, Pieri was named women's coach at South Alabama, taking over leadership of a program that had gone through ten consecutive losing seasons.
[3] In thirteen seasons at South Alabama, Pietri's Lady Jaguars had nine winning seasons, won the West division of the Sun Belt Conference twice and made two appearances in the Women's National Invitation Tournament.
With a record of 220–167 and 111–104 in the Sun Belt, Pietri is the winningest coach in USA women's basketball.