Penn State head women’s basketball head coach Carolyn Kieger welcomes Daniel Barber to her coaching staff. Barber arrives in Happy Valley after stops at Florida, UNC Asheville, Stetson and most recently Clemson. The University of Florida graduate joins the staff as an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator for Kieger.
“We are ecstatic to welcome Daniel and his family to Happy Valley,” said Kieger. “Joining our program with a passion for empowering others, he brings a wealth of experience and a genuine commitment to fostering relationships. Daniel is an elite recruiter who has a passion for developing players on and off the floor. With his expertise and dedication, I’m confident he will bring invaluable contributions to our program and our players’ development.”
Barber is a graduate of Florida, where he earned his Undergraduate Degree and Master’s Degree in 2015. During his graduate studies he served as the graduate assistant for the women’s basketball team at his alma mater. Barber enjoyed a short stint at UNC Asheville for the 2013-14 season before heading to Stetson where he served as an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator for four seasons.
During his time with the Hatters, they made three postseason appearances and three 20-plus-win seasons. In 2016-17, he helped guide the team to its first-ever ASUN regular season championship. Barber worked with the guards at Stetson and helped coach ASUN Player of the Year Brianti Saunders and ASUN Freshman of the Year McKenna Beach. Saunders finished her career as the all-time leading scorer for the Hatters with 1,975 points.
His final stop before arriving to Happy Valley was a six-year stop at Clemson as an assistant coach and eventual recruiting coordinator as well. He has helped six players to All-ACC honors throughout his time with the Tigers including Delicia Washington, who earned first team conference honors, two ACC All-Freshman Team selections and two All-Defensive Team members. In his new role as the recruiting coordinator, he landed Clemson’s first-ever McDonald’s All-American recruit who earned All-Freshman team honors in her first collegiate season.
After his first season in Clemson in 2019, Barber was named as one of the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association’s Thirty Under 30, given to 30 of the up-and-coming women’s 1basketball coaches aged 30 and under across all levels of the sport.
