SYRACUSE, N.Y. — Lily Grenci likes mint chocolate chip ice cream, the television show True Blood and painting her nails the night before a game.

She loves basketball most of all, though, and had a decision to make when it came to the sport: go to graduate school and coach or pursue a professional career overseas.

The Mars and Siena College graduate chose school and coaching, joining Le Moyne College as a graduate assistant.

“It's still something I deal with every day, but I have no regrets,” Grenci said. “To play professionally in Europe would have been a great opportunity, but I finished my playing career on a high note and healthy. I have no regrets about the four years I played.”

Grenci scored 1,074 points and added 624 rebounds for Siena. Grenci started just one game in her first two years with the Saints and wracked up most of those gaudy numbers the last two seasons.

“I had some goals, but I never thought I would score 1,000 points or be a two-time first-team all-conference player,” Grenci said. “I'm competitive in everything I do. I want to compete and do well.”

Grenci plans on taking that same intensity to the bench at Le Moyne.

There she will join her former Siena head coach, Gina Castelli, and former teammate, Christina Centeno.

“Gina Castelli knows me better than anyone,” Grenci said. “I'm really excited. I had no idea I wanted to coach. All I knew was I loved basketball.”

Grenci excelled just as much in the classroom at Siena as she did on the court.

She graduated Magna Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology and was a candidate for the prestigious Senior CLASS Award, which is given each year to a Division I senior based on academic and athletic achievements as well as work in the community and character.

“That was special to me,” Grenci said. “I worked just as hard in the classroom as I did on the court. I am competitive even in the classroom. It was difficult with practice and travel, but my parents always reminded me I was there for school, not just basketball.”

Grenci said she will have no trouble making the transition from player to coach.

She was basically a coach on the floor for Siena during her senior year when she averaged 15.9 points and 9.5 rebounds per game.

Grenci was the unquestioned leader under first-year coach Ali Jaques.

“She put a lot of faith in me,” Grenci said. “I'm a person who is a little bit more outspoken. That's just who I am. I'm loud. I was almost a motherly figure during my senior year. Ali Jaques was great and it meant a lot to me that she wanted me to have a great senior season.”

Grenci is chomping at the bit to get going with her new team. Fall practices begin today.

Her biggest problem may be trying to keep herself from wanting to put on a uniform and play again.

“I definitely miss it,” Grenci said.

Le Moyne is coming off a 6-20 season. Several other sports at the school, namely men's and women's lacrosse, are NCAA Division II national championship contenders each year.

Grenci hopes the women's basketball program can reach that level as well.

“We are a very competitive coaching staff and we want to build something special here,” she said.

As far as her coaching style, Grenci said she won't draw from the many coaches she has had in her playing career.

“I don't think about coaching styles,” Grenci said. “I don't want to put on a false face. I care about these players. I'm just going to be me.”