Army West Point Athletics
Women's Basketball
Centeno, Cristina
Cristina Centeno
- Title:
- Assistant Women's Basketball Coach
- Phone:
- 3734
Cristina Centeno was added to the Army West Point women's basketball staff in May of 2021.
“Cristina is someone who I have watched rise through the coaching ranks for the past eight years,” Army head coach Missy Traversi said upon her hiring. “She is an excellent teacher and a motivator. As someone with high energy and a love for the game, Cristina wants nothing more than to see the people around her, especially our cadet-athletes, succeed.”
She arrives at the banks of the Hudson following a four year-stint at Appalachian State.
In the 2018-19 season, Appalachian State had a record of 22-14 and was crowned the Women’s Basketball Invitational Champions. The Mountaineers advanced to the semifinal round of the Sun Belt tournament in two of the last three seasons that she was part of the staff.
Centeno recruited and developed transfer Ashley Polacek, who averaged double figures both seasons she dressed for the program and was drafted to play professionally overseas. She also helped recruit Faith Alston, who averaged the most assists per game by a freshman in over 10 years.
Prior to her appointment at Appalachian State, she served as an assistant at Le Moyne College from 2013-17. The Dolphins earned a berth to the NE-10 tournament all four years she was a member of the staff. They additionally received invitations to the ECAC postseason tournament in 2014 and 2015.
Centeno helped with the development of freshman McKayla Roberts, who averaged 11.2 points per game en route to being named the Northeast-10 Rookie of the Year. Also, Centeno assisted in the development of Vandell Andrade, who was named Northeast-10 Conference Defensive Player of the Year, second-team all-conference and 2016 WBCA Division II All-American Honorable Mention. In 2016-17, Centeno helped the Dolphins reach the Northeast-10 Conference Semifinals for the second time in 21 seasons.
Centeno was selected fourth overall by the Quebradillas Pirates in the 2012 Draft of Puerto Rico's Baloncesto Superior Nacional Femenino (BSNF). During the 2012 season, Centeno averaged 11.8 points (3rd on the team), 5.5 rebounds, 3.0 assists and a team-best 1.8 steals to earn BSNF Rookie of the Year accolades, while guiding the Pirates to the regular season championship and a spot in the BSNF championship game.
A starter all four years at Siena, Centeno enjoyed a decorated career where she is 10th all-time in school history with 343 assists. She is just one of only 13 players in the history of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference to record career totals of at least 900 points, 400 rebounds, 300 assists, 100 steals and 100 3-pointers.
Centeno graduated from Siena in 2012 with a Bachelor of Science in Business Management.
“I am extremely grateful to become part of the Army family,” Centeno said. “With my dad serving in the Army and West Point being the world’s preeminent leadership institution with a great history of Duty, Honor, and Country, it will be a tremendous privilege to wear Army across my chest every day. I believe in Coach Traversi’s vision for our cadet-athletes and this program, and I could not be more excited to get to work.”
A native of Belleville, N.J., she resides in Highland Falls, N.Y.
“Cristina is someone who I have watched rise through the coaching ranks for the past eight years,” Army head coach Missy Traversi said upon her hiring. “She is an excellent teacher and a motivator. As someone with high energy and a love for the game, Cristina wants nothing more than to see the people around her, especially our cadet-athletes, succeed.”
She arrives at the banks of the Hudson following a four year-stint at Appalachian State.
In the 2018-19 season, Appalachian State had a record of 22-14 and was crowned the Women’s Basketball Invitational Champions. The Mountaineers advanced to the semifinal round of the Sun Belt tournament in two of the last three seasons that she was part of the staff.
Centeno recruited and developed transfer Ashley Polacek, who averaged double figures both seasons she dressed for the program and was drafted to play professionally overseas. She also helped recruit Faith Alston, who averaged the most assists per game by a freshman in over 10 years.
Prior to her appointment at Appalachian State, she served as an assistant at Le Moyne College from 2013-17. The Dolphins earned a berth to the NE-10 tournament all four years she was a member of the staff. They additionally received invitations to the ECAC postseason tournament in 2014 and 2015.
Centeno helped with the development of freshman McKayla Roberts, who averaged 11.2 points per game en route to being named the Northeast-10 Rookie of the Year. Also, Centeno assisted in the development of Vandell Andrade, who was named Northeast-10 Conference Defensive Player of the Year, second-team all-conference and 2016 WBCA Division II All-American Honorable Mention. In 2016-17, Centeno helped the Dolphins reach the Northeast-10 Conference Semifinals for the second time in 21 seasons.
Centeno was selected fourth overall by the Quebradillas Pirates in the 2012 Draft of Puerto Rico's Baloncesto Superior Nacional Femenino (BSNF). During the 2012 season, Centeno averaged 11.8 points (3rd on the team), 5.5 rebounds, 3.0 assists and a team-best 1.8 steals to earn BSNF Rookie of the Year accolades, while guiding the Pirates to the regular season championship and a spot in the BSNF championship game.
A starter all four years at Siena, Centeno enjoyed a decorated career where she is 10th all-time in school history with 343 assists. She is just one of only 13 players in the history of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference to record career totals of at least 900 points, 400 rebounds, 300 assists, 100 steals and 100 3-pointers.
Centeno graduated from Siena in 2012 with a Bachelor of Science in Business Management.
“I am extremely grateful to become part of the Army family,” Centeno said. “With my dad serving in the Army and West Point being the world’s preeminent leadership institution with a great history of Duty, Honor, and Country, it will be a tremendous privilege to wear Army across my chest every day. I believe in Coach Traversi’s vision for our cadet-athletes and this program, and I could not be more excited to get to work.”
A native of Belleville, N.J., she resides in Highland Falls, N.Y.
vs. Wagner
Saturday, December 08
