Danielle Hart Named Denver Director of Volleyball Operations
8/17/2026 11:30:00 AM | Volleyball
All-American and national champion joins the Pioneers
DENVER – University of Denver volleyball announced today that Danielle Hart has been hired as the program's Director of Operations.
"I'm excited to have Danielle join our staff and Pioneer family as we enter this new era of Denver volleyball in the West Coast Conference," said DU head coach Megan Pendergast. "Danielle's experience as a professional player and as an All-American and national champion in college will allow our squad to continue to elevate in everything we do. Additionally, her passion and attention to detail will help our student-athletes succeed both on and off the court."
Hart spent six years as a student-athlete with University of Wisconsin women's volleyball team as a middle blocker from 2017-2022 where she helped the squad make at least the Sweet 16 each season, reach the national semifinals three times and win the 2021 NCAA National Championship. Additionally, Hart was a part of four Big Ten Conference Championships with the Badgers (2019, 2020, 2021, 2022).
The Virginia Beach, Virginia, native served as a team captain in 2022 and was recognized that year on the AVCA All-American Third Team after finishing third in the NCAA in blocks per set (1.51), hit at a .418 rate and ranked second in the Big Ten with 1.78 kills per set following an abbreviated 2021 campaign due to an ACL injury. Additionally, she was named to the All-Big Ten First Team and was selected to the VolleyballMag.com All-American First Team in her final collegiate season of 2022.
Overall, Hart garnered three all-conference honors during her career in Madison after earning a pair of second-team awards in 2019 and 2020 from the Big Ten, and she was also named a VolleyballMag.com All-American Honorable Mention in 2019. In total, she played in 129 career matches for Wisconsin across five seasons and averaged 1.2 blocks, 1.72 kills and 2.33 points per set.
Following her collegiate career, Hart played professionally for two years, suiting up with Athletes Unlimited in 2023 and the Omaha Supernovas of the then-Pro Volleyball Federation in 2024.
"I'm excited to join the Denver volleyball program and find a new way to contribute to the sport I've spent so much of my life around," Hart said. "I hope to bring the perspective and experience I gained as a student-athlete, professional player and team captain to support our staff and student-athletes as we continue to build the program. Being back around a team and finding a new way to be a part of the game has already been incredibly rewarding."
Internationally, Hart represented the United States and won gold with the national team at the 2023 Pan-American Cup Final Six in the Dominican Republic and a bronze at the Pan-Am Volleyball Cup in Puerto Rico that year. She also competed and won gold for Team USA's national collegiate team at the 2018 Global Challenge in Croatia.
Hart graduated from Wisconsin with a bachelor's degree in life sciences communication in 2022 and earned master's degree in sports leadership from UW in 2023. She earned Academic All-Big Ten Team honors five times in her NCAA career.
Hart is also an independent filmmaker and photographer that specializes in weddings and personal storytelling projects.
"I'm excited to have Danielle join our staff and Pioneer family as we enter this new era of Denver volleyball in the West Coast Conference," said DU head coach Megan Pendergast. "Danielle's experience as a professional player and as an All-American and national champion in college will allow our squad to continue to elevate in everything we do. Additionally, her passion and attention to detail will help our student-athletes succeed both on and off the court."
Hart spent six years as a student-athlete with University of Wisconsin women's volleyball team as a middle blocker from 2017-2022 where she helped the squad make at least the Sweet 16 each season, reach the national semifinals three times and win the 2021 NCAA National Championship. Additionally, Hart was a part of four Big Ten Conference Championships with the Badgers (2019, 2020, 2021, 2022).
The Virginia Beach, Virginia, native served as a team captain in 2022 and was recognized that year on the AVCA All-American Third Team after finishing third in the NCAA in blocks per set (1.51), hit at a .418 rate and ranked second in the Big Ten with 1.78 kills per set following an abbreviated 2021 campaign due to an ACL injury. Additionally, she was named to the All-Big Ten First Team and was selected to the VolleyballMag.com All-American First Team in her final collegiate season of 2022.
Overall, Hart garnered three all-conference honors during her career in Madison after earning a pair of second-team awards in 2019 and 2020 from the Big Ten, and she was also named a VolleyballMag.com All-American Honorable Mention in 2019. In total, she played in 129 career matches for Wisconsin across five seasons and averaged 1.2 blocks, 1.72 kills and 2.33 points per set.
Following her collegiate career, Hart played professionally for two years, suiting up with Athletes Unlimited in 2023 and the Omaha Supernovas of the then-Pro Volleyball Federation in 2024.
"I'm excited to join the Denver volleyball program and find a new way to contribute to the sport I've spent so much of my life around," Hart said. "I hope to bring the perspective and experience I gained as a student-athlete, professional player and team captain to support our staff and student-athletes as we continue to build the program. Being back around a team and finding a new way to be a part of the game has already been incredibly rewarding."
Internationally, Hart represented the United States and won gold with the national team at the 2023 Pan-American Cup Final Six in the Dominican Republic and a bronze at the Pan-Am Volleyball Cup in Puerto Rico that year. She also competed and won gold for Team USA's national collegiate team at the 2018 Global Challenge in Croatia.
Hart graduated from Wisconsin with a bachelor's degree in life sciences communication in 2022 and earned master's degree in sports leadership from UW in 2023. She earned Academic All-Big Ten Team honors five times in her NCAA career.
Hart is also an independent filmmaker and photographer that specializes in weddings and personal storytelling projects.
DENVER'S HOME FOR COLLEGE SPORTS
Visit DenverPioneers.com for complete coverage of all 18 of DU's NCAA Division I sports
Like Denver Pioneers and DU Volleyball on Facebook
Follow @DU_Pioneers and @DU_Volleyball on X
Follow @DenverPioneers and @duvolleyball on Instagram
Visit DenverPioneers.com for complete coverage of all 18 of DU's NCAA Division I sports
Like Denver Pioneers and DU Volleyball on Facebook
Follow @DU_Pioneers and @DU_Volleyball on X
Follow @DenverPioneers and @duvolleyball on Instagram
Friday, November 14
Thursday, November 13
Sunday, November 02
Saturday, November 01
