Staff Directory

Danielle Rauch

Title:
Assistant Coach

Danielle Rauch, a U-M letterwinner from 2019-22, begins her second season in Ann Arbor as an assistant coach in 2026-27.

Michigan is coming off arguably the best season in program history in 2025-26, reaching the Elite Eight for just the second time and tying the program record for wins with 28. U-M also set numerous statistical records, including points (2,880), points per game (82.3), rebounds (1,409), field goals made (1,086) and field goals attempted (2,346). The Wolverines were ranked in every Associated Press poll during the season, including a streak of 17 straight weeks in the top 10. Michigan tied for second in the Big Ten behind a 15-3 record and reached the semifinals of the Big Ten Tournament for the third straight season. Michigan hosted the first and second rounds of the NCAA Tournament at Crisler Center for just the second time, advancing to the Fort Worth Region 3 regional where the Wolverines knocked off Louisville before falling to Texas in the regional final. Olivia Olson became the second Wolverine in program history to earn All-America honors, grabbing second-team honors from ESPN and The Athletic and third-team honors from the Associated Press and Sporting News. She was joined on the All-Big Ten first team by Syla Swords, with Brooke Quarles Daniels earning Big Ten All-Defensive Team plaudits.

Rauch returned to Ann Arbor after spending the 2024-25 season as an assistant coach at Western Carolina, helping the Catamounts to their highest win total since 2013-14. She worked with the point guards on the court, while serving as liaison for strength and conditioning, equipment management and facility logistics.

Following her graduation from Michigan, Rauch spent the 2022-23 season as the graduate assistant coach at Clemson. She utilized her extra year of eligibility due to the COVID-19 pandemic in 2023-24, appearing in 23 games for the Tigers with a pair of starts.

Rauch played four seasons at Michigan from 2018-19 to 2021-22, helping Michigan to its two longest postseason runs in program history. She entered the starting lineup at the 2021 NCAA Tournament, leading Michigan to its first-ever Sweet 16 appearance with wins over Florida Gulf Coast and Tennessee.

A starter for the entirety of her senior season, Rauch was one of two Wolverines to start all 32 games while averaging 5.4 points, 4.0 rebounds and 2.7 assists in 32.6 minutes per game. She recorded seven double-figure scoring performances during her final season, highlighted by a career-best 18 points at Wisconsin (Dec. 9, 2021).

A three-time Academic All-Big Ten honoree and two-time Big Ten Distinguished Scholar, Rauch graduated from Michigan with a degree in applied exercise science before earning her master’s degree in athletic leadership at Clemson in 2024.