University of Pittsburgh Athletics
Danielle Santos Atkinson Named Head Coach At Hofstra
4/13/2019 5:18:00 PM | Women's Basketball
PITTSBURGH – University of Pittsburgh women's basketball associate head coach Danielle Atkinson has resigned her position with the Panthers and has accepted the head coaching position for the Hofstra Pride, as announced on Saturday afternoon. Atkinson returns to Hofstra for her second stint, this time as head coach, after spending four seasons as an assistant coach for the Pride from 2006-10.
"We are so excited for Coach Atkinson and her amazing family," said second-year head coach Lance White. "She is so deserving of this opportunity. Danielle has a proven record of hard work and success! When I hired her I knew I was hiring a future head coach. Hofstra is not only getting a great basketball mind, but also a great person off the court who will create a winning culture."
The Marietta, Ga. Native spent last season serving as the associate head coach for the Panthers under head coach Lance White. During her time with Pitt, Atkinson was responsible for coaching guard play and was heavily involved in the progression of a trio of backcourt mates in Aysia Bugg, Jasmine Whitney and Cassidy Walsh.
Bugg was enjoying a strong start to her season before sustaining a season-ending injury as she doubled her scoring average from her previous season, averaging a team-high 14.0 points through five contests. Whitney took over the reins of the offense after the Bugg injury and prospered for the Panthers as she averaged career-highs in nearly every statistical category including points per game (9.6), assists per game (4.5), rebounds per game (3.5), steals per game (2.1) and three-pointers made (25). Walsh was the Panthers most improved player a season ago as Atkinson helped the senior average career highs in nearly every category as she averaged 9.7 points, 3.8 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 1.3 steals while connecting on a team-high 65 three-pointers.
Prior to Pitt, Atkinson spent four seasons at Florida State as an assistant coach and worked with White on Sue Semrau's coaching staff. Florida State reached the NCAA Tournament in each year of her term, including two Elite Eights (2015, 2017) and one Sweet 16 appearance (2016). She helped lead the Seminoles to a 111-26 (.810) overall record and a 52-12 (.813) ACC record over four years.
As FSU's recruiting coordinator, Atkinson played a key role in signing three recruiting classes that ranked in the top-4 nationally (2016, 2018, 2019). Over her four career Division I positions, Atkinson has recruited and coached 25 all-conference, eight all-freshman/rookie, and seven all-defensive team selections, including the 2017 ACC Player of the Year (Coaches' Selection) Shakayla Thomas. Her individual work with former Seminole guard Leticia Romero helped the Spaniard become the first three-time All-American in school history (2015, 2016, 2017).
Before heading to Tallahassee, she worked at Kentucky for two seasons and helped the Wildcats reach the NCAA Elite Eight in 2012-13 and the NCAA Sweet 16 in 2013-14. Responsible for coaching guard play, Atkinson was heavily involved in the progression of backcourt mates Jennifer O'Neill (All-SEC guard) and Linnae Harper (All-SEC freshman guard) in the 2013-14 year. In Atkinson's first season in Lexington, former Kentucky guard A'dia Mathies was named the 2013 SEC Co-Player of the Year as well as a Wooden Award finalist under her watch.
In 2014, Atkinson helped the Wildcats land the 17th-ranked 2014 recruiting class, according to ESPNW.
At Illinois State, Atkinson helped guide the Redbirds to two postseason trips, which included a 2011-12 team that was chosen sixth in the Missouri Valley Conference preseason poll and finished second with a 13-5 league record.
Atkinson started her coaching career at Hofstra and spent four seasons in Hempstead, N.Y., including her final two years as the recruiting coordinator in addition to her assistant coach duties. At Hofstra, she was responsible for implementing the team's offensive strategies, which helped the Pride record two 20-win seasons in her tenure, including a school-record 26 games in her first season. Atkinson's influential coaching style helped nine of her former players at Hofstra earn All-Colonial Athletic Association honors, while four went on to play professionally overseas.
A Marietta, Ga., native, Atkinson earned several academic honors as a four-year letterwinner for the University of Florida (2002-06). She was a three-time SEC Academic Honor Roll selection, an Arthur Ashe Jr. Scholar Athlete Second Team member and a District 3 CoSIDA Academic All-America Team member. She finished her career seventh all-time at UF with 80 3-pointers, ranked 11th with 162 steals, 11th with 265 assists and fifth with a 78.2 free throw percentage.
While in Gainesville, she graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Exercise and Sport Sciences with a concentration in Sport Management. Atkinson also minored in education and business administration.
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"We are so excited for Coach Atkinson and her amazing family," said second-year head coach Lance White. "She is so deserving of this opportunity. Danielle has a proven record of hard work and success! When I hired her I knew I was hiring a future head coach. Hofstra is not only getting a great basketball mind, but also a great person off the court who will create a winning culture."
The Marietta, Ga. Native spent last season serving as the associate head coach for the Panthers under head coach Lance White. During her time with Pitt, Atkinson was responsible for coaching guard play and was heavily involved in the progression of a trio of backcourt mates in Aysia Bugg, Jasmine Whitney and Cassidy Walsh.
Bugg was enjoying a strong start to her season before sustaining a season-ending injury as she doubled her scoring average from her previous season, averaging a team-high 14.0 points through five contests. Whitney took over the reins of the offense after the Bugg injury and prospered for the Panthers as she averaged career-highs in nearly every statistical category including points per game (9.6), assists per game (4.5), rebounds per game (3.5), steals per game (2.1) and three-pointers made (25). Walsh was the Panthers most improved player a season ago as Atkinson helped the senior average career highs in nearly every category as she averaged 9.7 points, 3.8 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 1.3 steals while connecting on a team-high 65 three-pointers.
Prior to Pitt, Atkinson spent four seasons at Florida State as an assistant coach and worked with White on Sue Semrau's coaching staff. Florida State reached the NCAA Tournament in each year of her term, including two Elite Eights (2015, 2017) and one Sweet 16 appearance (2016). She helped lead the Seminoles to a 111-26 (.810) overall record and a 52-12 (.813) ACC record over four years.
As FSU's recruiting coordinator, Atkinson played a key role in signing three recruiting classes that ranked in the top-4 nationally (2016, 2018, 2019). Over her four career Division I positions, Atkinson has recruited and coached 25 all-conference, eight all-freshman/rookie, and seven all-defensive team selections, including the 2017 ACC Player of the Year (Coaches' Selection) Shakayla Thomas. Her individual work with former Seminole guard Leticia Romero helped the Spaniard become the first three-time All-American in school history (2015, 2016, 2017).
Before heading to Tallahassee, she worked at Kentucky for two seasons and helped the Wildcats reach the NCAA Elite Eight in 2012-13 and the NCAA Sweet 16 in 2013-14. Responsible for coaching guard play, Atkinson was heavily involved in the progression of backcourt mates Jennifer O'Neill (All-SEC guard) and Linnae Harper (All-SEC freshman guard) in the 2013-14 year. In Atkinson's first season in Lexington, former Kentucky guard A'dia Mathies was named the 2013 SEC Co-Player of the Year as well as a Wooden Award finalist under her watch.
In 2014, Atkinson helped the Wildcats land the 17th-ranked 2014 recruiting class, according to ESPNW.
At Illinois State, Atkinson helped guide the Redbirds to two postseason trips, which included a 2011-12 team that was chosen sixth in the Missouri Valley Conference preseason poll and finished second with a 13-5 league record.
Atkinson started her coaching career at Hofstra and spent four seasons in Hempstead, N.Y., including her final two years as the recruiting coordinator in addition to her assistant coach duties. At Hofstra, she was responsible for implementing the team's offensive strategies, which helped the Pride record two 20-win seasons in her tenure, including a school-record 26 games in her first season. Atkinson's influential coaching style helped nine of her former players at Hofstra earn All-Colonial Athletic Association honors, while four went on to play professionally overseas.
A Marietta, Ga., native, Atkinson earned several academic honors as a four-year letterwinner for the University of Florida (2002-06). She was a three-time SEC Academic Honor Roll selection, an Arthur Ashe Jr. Scholar Athlete Second Team member and a District 3 CoSIDA Academic All-America Team member. She finished her career seventh all-time at UF with 80 3-pointers, ranked 11th with 162 steals, 11th with 265 assists and fifth with a 78.2 free throw percentage.
While in Gainesville, she graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Exercise and Sport Sciences with a concentration in Sport Management. Atkinson also minored in education and business administration.
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