COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – Danielle Gotham, a native of South Lyon, Mich., has been added to the Tennessee Tech volleyball coaching staff as head coach Dave Zelenock announced her addition as an assistant on Monday.
"Danielle brings high energy and a positive attitude to the program," Zelenock said of Gotham. "She will be in charge of training our middle/rights and running our defense. As a player she was a phenomenal blocker, so I expect our blocking will improve under her direction."
Gotham comes to Tech following a year at Armstrong State University where she served as an assistant coach. In the 2014 season, ASU finished with a 30-3 record, while going 17-1 in conference play, and boasting a 15-0 home court record. She focused on coaching middle blockers, and both of her starting middle blockers ranked within the top-five in the Peach Belt Conference.
Adding to her coaching resume, Gotham coached in Pula, Croatia this summer for the Bring It Promotions® 2015 European Global Challenge. She helped guide the BIP Southeastern U17 Team to a 5-1 record, earning silver medals out of 10 total teams. She had the opportunity to coach players who are committed to schools such as Florida State, Louisiana State, and Colorado State, as well as others.
Prior to graduation from Central Michigan University in 2014, Gotham wrapped up her undergraduate degree as a TTU volunteer coach under Zelenock in the spring of 2014. She also interned with Channel 7 in Cookeville to finish up her degree. Gotham graduated in May 2014 with a Bachelor of Science, majoring in marketing, while adding an advertising minor.
"I coached Danielle at Central Michigan and she was a huge part in winning a MAC [Mid-American Conference] title. She's going to be very helpful because she knows what it takes as a player to win a title and can mentor our athletes on how to accomplish our goals."
A four-year starter on the Central Michigan's volleyball team, Gotham played under Zelenock when he served as an assistant coach for four of her five years at CMU. Gotham played an impact role as a starting middle blocker on the MAC championship team that went to the NCAA tournament in 2011. During her senior season, she earned the role of co-captain. She finished her career at CMU ranked fourth in career solo blocks, block assists, and total blocks during the rally-scoring era. She also finished ranked third in total blocks for a single season in 2011.
Gotham is the daughter of Don and Denise Gotham and has one older brother Derek. She is continuing to work on her master's degree in professional communication & leadership from Armstrong State.
