Mario Caetano was named the 13th head coach in MSU Denver women’s basketball history on May 29, 2026, taking over the Roadrunners program following a highly successful five-year tenure at Adams State University.
Caetano enters his first season at MSU Denver with a proven track record of building winning programs, developing student-athletes and competing at a high level within the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference. During his time at Adams State, Caetano established himself as the winningest coach in program history while leading the Grizzlies to three consecutive NCAA Division II National Tournament appearances.
In four seasons as Adams State’s head coach, Caetano guided the Grizzlies to a 99-56 overall record and a 73-33 mark in RMAC play. His teams advanced to the RMAC Tournament semifinals in three of his four seasons as head coach and captured a share of the 2023-24 RMAC regular-season championship.
The 2023-24 season marked the most successful season in Adams State women’s basketball history. Caetano led the Grizzlies to a 25-9 record and an NCAA Division II National Tournament second-round appearance. Adams State led the RMAC in scoring, three-point field goals made, three-point field-goal percentage, turnover margin, steals per game and turnovers forced per game. The Grizzlies also ranked among the NCAA Division II leaders in turnovers forced, steals and turnover margin.
Caetano continued that success in 2024-25, guiding Adams State to 19 wins and another NCAA Division II National Tournament appearance. During the season, Kiiyani Anitielu scored 52 points against Westminster University, setting the RMAC single-game scoring record. Caetano also coached Taejhuan Hill to a double-double average for the season, ranking seventh nationally in the category.
In 2025-26, Caetano led Adams State to 22 wins, another RMAC Tournament semifinal appearance and the program’s third consecutive NCAA Division II National Tournament berth. He also coached Elaina Watson to become the first player in Adams State history to earn RMAC Defensive Player of the Year honors. Watson finished the season with 96 steals and 154 rebounds.
Under Caetano, Adams State produced two First Team All-RMAC selections in Anitielu and Hill, while Watson earned Second Team All-RMAC honors and Ashiian Hunter was named All-RMAC Honorable Mention.
Caetano joined Adams State after spending two seasons with Vegas Elite Basketball Club, one of the nation’s premier boys travel basketball programs. Vegas Elite competes in the Nike Elite Youth Basketball League (EYBL), providing Caetano with extensive experience recruiting and evaluating high-level talent.
Prior to Adams State, Caetano spent eight years at Northern New Mexico College. He served as the men’s associate head coach before taking over as the head coach of the women’s program in December 2018. During his time with the Eagles, he helped lead the men’s program to its first-ever A-II Conference Championship and NAIA National Tournament appearance during the 2014-15 season.
A native of Albuquerque, New Mexico, Caetano earned his Bachelor of Arts in Integrated Studies with an emphasis in Humanities from Northern New Mexico College in 2012. He earned his Master of Science in Recreation and Sports Sciences from Ohio University in 2015.
Caetano and his wife, Shaniqua, have three children: Makai, Mya and Masai.
Now at MSU Denver, Caetano takes over a Roadrunners program with a rich tradition and a strong history of success in the RMAC. He is focused on building upon that tradition through player development, recruiting, accountability, defensive identity, team culture and a commitment to competing at an elite level.
