Danielle “Danny” O’Banion is a seasoned NCAA Division I coach who brings over two decades of experience to the University of Mary Washington (UMW). A former standout at Boston College, she was a four-year letter-winner from 1997 to 2001, co-captain her senior year, and part of the Eagles’ first two NCAA-Tournament teams. She graduated in 2001 with a Bachelor’s in Psychology and a minor in Hispanic Studies. Her playing experience at a high academic and athletic level set the foundation for a coaching career that emphasizes student-athlete development in all dimensions of sport, academics and life.
As head coach, O’Banion has built a culture of resilience, progress and high expectations. In her first three years at the helm, her teams at UMW doubled their win totals, posted the program’s first winning season in 13 years, and secured the best conference finish in school history, earning her the Patriot League Coach of the Year award in 2024. Previously, she held assistant and head-coaching roles at institutions including Kent State University, University of Minnesota, University of Memphis and Harvard University. She is also a cancer survivor, having coached through treatment and been honored with the Pat Summitt Most Courageous Award in 2016—an example of her perseverance and leadership under pressure.
