University of Minnesota Athletics
Women's Basketball
O'Banion, Danielle
Danielle O'Banion
- Title:
- Assistant Coach
- Email:
- obani001@umn.edu
- Phone:
- 612-624-1539
Danielle O’Banion brought 16 seasons of NCAA Division I coaching experience with her when she returned to the University of Minnesota women’s basketball program in May of 2018.
O’Banion was an assistant coach for the Golden Gophers during its best five-season run in school history from 2002-03 to 2006-07. In that span, Minnesota posted five straight winning seasons, including three 25-win campaigns, and four-consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances from 2003-06. Minnesota advanced to the NCAA Sweet Sixteen in 2003 and 2005 and made the program’s first and only Women’s Final Four in 2004. While at Minnesota, O’Banion worked with the Golden Gopher backcourt, which included current Minnesota head coach Lindsay Whalen and current assistant coach, Kelly Curry.
Now entering her 20th season on the sidelines, O’Banion’s on-court responsibilities include co-directing team defensive schemes, coaching the Gopher post players, and preparing scouting reports/game strategies. Off the court, she actively engages in prospect recruiting, game scheduling, and directing the Lindsay Whalen Basketball Camps. She is also passionate about giving back to the game of basketball by actively engaging with the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA). She served on the Board of Directors from 2013-15 and presented during the National Conventions in 2011 and 2019.
Danielle’s playing and coaching career includes time at Boston College, Harvard University, University of Memphis, Kent State, and University of Minnesota. She served as the head coach at Kent State University from 2008-12, where she effectively restored the roster by signing 17 student-athletes in four years. She mentored two all-conference honorees and secured the largest financial gift to the women’s basketball program in athletics history during that four-year period.
At the 2016 NCAA Women’s Final Four in early April, O’Banion was presented the U.S. Basketball Writers Association (USBWA) Pat Summitt Most Courageous Award for women’s basketball. The Summitt Award is presented by USBWA annually to players, coaches, officials or administrators in women’s college basketball that have demonstrated extraordinary courage in the face of adversity.
O’Banion received the prestigious honor for her fight against cancer. She was diagnosed with Stage 2 lymphoma cancer in 2014 and went through a series of chemotherapy treatments. While in treatment, Danielle coached every game and missed fewer than 10 team practices. Six months after being diagnosed, O’Banion announced on Twitter that the cancer had gone into remission. She entered the 2015-16 season cancer free and still is to this day.
As a student-athlete, O’Banion was a standout for the Boston College women’s basketball program from 1997-2001. She helped lead the Eagles to the program’s first two NCAA Tournament berths in 1999 and 2000, and Boston College advanced to the tournament’s second round both seasons. O’Banion was voted a team co-captain her senior campaign.
PERSONAL
Hometown: Arlington, Va.
Alma Mater: Boston College (2001)
COACHING HISTORY
2018-present: University of Minnesota (Assistant Coach)
2016-18: University of Memphis (Associate Head Coach)
2012-16: Kent State University (Head Coach)
2009-12: University of Memphis (Associate Head Coach)
2008-09: University of Memphis (Assistant Coach)
2007-08: Episcopal High School (Va.) (Head Coach)
2002-07: University of Minnesota (Assistant Coach)
2001-02: Harvard University (Assistant Coach)
PLAYING EXPERIENCE
1997-01: Boston College University
PLAYING HONORS
Team co-captain (2001)
BIG EAST Conference Academic All-Star (2001)
Participated in NCAA Foundation Leadership Conference (2000)
O’Banion was an assistant coach for the Golden Gophers during its best five-season run in school history from 2002-03 to 2006-07. In that span, Minnesota posted five straight winning seasons, including three 25-win campaigns, and four-consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances from 2003-06. Minnesota advanced to the NCAA Sweet Sixteen in 2003 and 2005 and made the program’s first and only Women’s Final Four in 2004. While at Minnesota, O’Banion worked with the Golden Gopher backcourt, which included current Minnesota head coach Lindsay Whalen and current assistant coach, Kelly Curry.
Now entering her 20th season on the sidelines, O’Banion’s on-court responsibilities include co-directing team defensive schemes, coaching the Gopher post players, and preparing scouting reports/game strategies. Off the court, she actively engages in prospect recruiting, game scheduling, and directing the Lindsay Whalen Basketball Camps. She is also passionate about giving back to the game of basketball by actively engaging with the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA). She served on the Board of Directors from 2013-15 and presented during the National Conventions in 2011 and 2019.
Danielle’s playing and coaching career includes time at Boston College, Harvard University, University of Memphis, Kent State, and University of Minnesota. She served as the head coach at Kent State University from 2008-12, where she effectively restored the roster by signing 17 student-athletes in four years. She mentored two all-conference honorees and secured the largest financial gift to the women’s basketball program in athletics history during that four-year period.
At the 2016 NCAA Women’s Final Four in early April, O’Banion was presented the U.S. Basketball Writers Association (USBWA) Pat Summitt Most Courageous Award for women’s basketball. The Summitt Award is presented by USBWA annually to players, coaches, officials or administrators in women’s college basketball that have demonstrated extraordinary courage in the face of adversity.
O’Banion received the prestigious honor for her fight against cancer. She was diagnosed with Stage 2 lymphoma cancer in 2014 and went through a series of chemotherapy treatments. While in treatment, Danielle coached every game and missed fewer than 10 team practices. Six months after being diagnosed, O’Banion announced on Twitter that the cancer had gone into remission. She entered the 2015-16 season cancer free and still is to this day.
As a student-athlete, O’Banion was a standout for the Boston College women’s basketball program from 1997-2001. She helped lead the Eagles to the program’s first two NCAA Tournament berths in 1999 and 2000, and Boston College advanced to the tournament’s second round both seasons. O’Banion was voted a team co-captain her senior campaign.
PERSONAL
Hometown: Arlington, Va.
Alma Mater: Boston College (2001)
COACHING HISTORY
2018-present: University of Minnesota (Assistant Coach)
2016-18: University of Memphis (Associate Head Coach)
2012-16: Kent State University (Head Coach)
2009-12: University of Memphis (Associate Head Coach)
2008-09: University of Memphis (Assistant Coach)
2007-08: Episcopal High School (Va.) (Head Coach)
2002-07: University of Minnesota (Assistant Coach)
2001-02: Harvard University (Assistant Coach)
PLAYING EXPERIENCE
1997-01: Boston College University
PLAYING HONORS
Team co-captain (2001)
BIG EAST Conference Academic All-Star (2001)
Participated in NCAA Foundation Leadership Conference (2000)
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