• Lopez will replace Patty Harrison who is retiring
• Lopez has club, high school and college volleyball coaching experience
• Lopez plans to continue DMACC's volleyball success

DMACC Athletics Director B.J. McGinn has announced the hiring of Danielle Lopez as the new head coach of the DMACC volleyball team.

Lopez, who has served as an assistant coach at DMACC the past two seasons, replaces Patty Harrison who is retiring at the end of the 2020-21 school year.

"Since her arrival here our volleyball program has definitely taken steps forward," said McGinn. "Obviously, you can see that with the progress we have made the last two years, especially this season, getting ranked in the (National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) (Division II) Top Ten. She has brought some things with her and had an opportunity to work under Patty that have been beneficial to the program."

McGinn said Lopez has done a great job of getting team members involved in charitable things and in monitoring academics and study halls to make sure the girls are doing a good job.

"She has really brought a lot of confidence to our administration and front office staff," McGinn said, adding that Lopez not only works with the volleyball players, but other students as well making sure they are getting the right courses and staying on track to graduate. "Her professionalism is second to none."

McGinn said Lopez is always willing to help out wherever needed, pointing out that she volunteered to help with admissions during men's and women's basketball games.

"That was one of the things that I was looking for, someone that has that type of attitude, someone that is willing to step in in whatever capacity to help out," McGinn said.

Lopez said she is really excited about becoming the school's head volleyball coach.

"Being a head coach at the collegiate level has always been a goal of mine," Lopez said, adding that she plans to recruit good people, because that is something a coach cannot teach.

"Good people results in good grades and good grades results in good teammates, but I also want to make sure they are a good fit for DMACC," Lopez said. "In terms of volleyball, we should be the hardest working team out there. (Opponents) might have more talent, but you're not going to outwork us on the court."

Lopez said she plans to use Iowa as her recruiting base before looking at student-athletes from surrounding states.

"There are some great athletes in Iowa and I think in a lot of the small schools they just get overlooked," Lopez said.

Lopez helped DMACC to a 17-5 record, including 15 three-match sweeps, this past season. The Bears were ranked in the NJCAA Division II Top Ten eight consecutive weeks, including a No. 3 ranking late in the season.

Before coming to DMACC, Lopez worked with the University of Northern Colorado volleyball program, gaining experience in all of the day-to-day aspects of the program. She has been a club volleyball coach in Colorado for more than nine years as well as a volleyball coach at a Class 5A high school for two years. Lopez has also worked as a satellite coach for summer volleyball camps at (NCAA) Division I colleges throughout the nation.

Lopez is a native of Longmont Colo., and a former player at 4A Longmont High School. She helped her team win district and regional championships her junior and senior seasons, as well as appearances at the state tournament both years.

"The biggest thing I bring is hunger," Lopez said. "Hunger to get us to the national tournament, and that excitement, that will power and that accountability and determination that will help us get to where we need to be."

Lopez knows she will be coaching in one of the toughest community College conferences in the country. At times during the past season, as many as five Iowa Community College Athletic Conference (ICCAC) volleyball teams were ranked in the NJCAA DII poll and two teams advanced to the national championship, finishing third and fifth.

"We definitely have a lot of work cut out for us," Lopez said. "I'm really excited and I think these girls have what it takes to get us to the next level. Patty has done a great job of building this program over the years and I have been so lucky to have her as a mentor the last two years. She has really taught me a lot and this past season she gave me a lot of freedom to learn about (the head coaching position). I'm grateful to her for that."