Northeastern women’s basketball head coach Kelly Cole formally welcomed D’Nay Daniels into the role of the Huskies’ new assistant coach on Thursday, replacing the team’s former assistant coach, Ashley Robinson. A Class of 2011 graduate and 1,000-point scorer at UCF, Daniels served the previous two seasons as the women’s basketball graduate assistant at Memphis while completing her master’s degree in sports commerce.
“I am excited to welcome D’Nay to my staff here at Northeastern,” said Cole. “She brings great knowledge and experience with her that will energize this program and help us continue to grow our culture of excellence.”
While pursuing her master’s degree at Memphis, Daniels served as the Tigers’ graduate assistant during the 2017-18 and 2018-19 seasons, working closely with the team’s director of basketball operations. Among her primary responsibilities, she led and directed Melissa McFerrin’s Hoop School Summer Camps, managed gameday logistics and helped organize day-to-day operations. At practices, Daniels facilitated court drills and workouts for the team’s post players, weighing on weekly scouting reports.
Prior to her two seasons at Memphis, Daniels was the three-year head coach of the varsity girls’ basketball team at Freedom High School (Orlando, Florida). There, she placed the Patriots onto a winning trajectory, doubling the team’s win total each season while maintaining 100-percent graduation and eligibility rates. Directing player development, Daniels helped mentor the Metro Conference Player of the Year as well as an NCAA Division I signee.
Daniels’ coaching career took root during 2011 when she became the director of basketball operations at Learning At Its Best (L.A.B.) Sports in Winter Springs, Florida. Lending a helping hand to the community, she managed basketball camps and events for youth from ages 8 to 18, teaching game and team strategies. Daniels has also served as the assistant girls’ varsity head coach and head junior varsity coach at Winter Park High School (Winter Park, Florida) as well as the assistant girls’ varsity head coach at The Geneva School (Winter Park, Florida).
A four-year starter and letterwinner at UCF, Daniels co-led the Knights to two NCAA tournament appearances courtesy of their 2009 and 2011 Conference USA titles. The two-time recipient of the team’s Most Valuable Player award (2010, 2011) earned All-Conference USA Second Team honors during her senior campaign in addition to garnering a spot on the 2011 Conference USA All-Tournament Team.
Daniels graduated from UCF in May 2011 with her bachelor’s degree in interpersonal communication.
Photo Courtesy NU Athletics
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