Aug. 2, 2010

MEMPHIS, Tenn. - - Danielle O'Banion, who has been a women's basketball assistant coach for the past two seasons at the University of Memphis, has been promoted to Associate Head Coach it was announced by head coach Melissa McFerrin, Monday. O'Banion came to Memphis two years ago with McFerrin and has served as the program's recruiting coordinator. During that time, the Memphis coaching staff has signed back-to-back, nationally-ranked recruiting classes comprised of 15 signees and will sport a roster for the upcoming 2010-2011 season with three top 100 ranked players.

"Danielle has been an integral part of building our foundation and moving our program in to the upper echelon of Conference USA," McFerrin said. "We are fortunate that she remains committed to the University of Memphis and our goal of becoming the Class of Conference USA."

O'Banion, a native of Arlington, Va., also helps coach the Tiger perimeter players and directs the Memphis defensive attack. The Tigers' pressure-oriented, full-court defense improved from 11th to fourth in Conference USA in field goal percentage defense (39.2) and ranked 13th in the nation in steals per game (11.2) last year.

The former Boston College guard helped Memphis to the finals of the last year's Women's Basketball Invitational, the team's first post-season and first 20-win season since 2003-04.

O'Banion is a member of both the Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) and the Black Coaches and Administrators (BCA). She serves on two WBCA award committees and is a member of the BCA Board of Directors. She is also a graduate of the Achieving Coaching Excellence (ACE) Program, a program co-sponsored by the NCAA and the BCA.