Just three years after her graduation, Danielle Rauch is back in Michigan with the women’s basketball team.
On Thursday, the Wolverines announced that Danielle Rauch will join the team as an assistant coach for the 2025-2026 season. Rauch will work alongside assistant coaches Melanie Moore, Justine Raterman, Jillian Dunston and Nataline Achonwa — a coaching staff that, too, shares some Michigan roots.
“To be able to bring somebody like Danielle back with her enthusiasm, passion and love for the game, as well as her love for Michigan, will be invaluable to the future of our program,” Wolverines coach Kim Barnes Arico said in a statement. “It will be great for our young kids to connect with someone who is one of the winningest players to put on a Michigan uniform. She helped lead us to a Sweet 16 and an Elite Eight — places where this team wants to go.”
Indeed, during her four seasons with Michigan, Rauch’s efforts culminated in the Wolverines’ two longest postseason runs in their history. In her senior year — during which Michigan reached the Elite Eight — Rauch served as a team captain, starting in all 32 games while averaging 5.4 points and 4.0 rebounds per game.
However, following her graduation, Rauch spent some time on the other side of the ball as a coach. She spent a year as a graduate assistant coach at Clemson before using her COVID-19 eligibility to don the Tigers jersey for the 2023-24 season, appearing in 23 games. And for the past year, Rauch has served as an assistant coach for the women’s basketball program at Western Carolina, helping the Catamounts reach their highest win total in ten years.
Now, Rauch is looking to make an impact with the Wolverines.
“I am beyond excited to return to my alma mater as an assistant coach,” Rauch said in a statement. “From the moment I stepped on campus, Ann Arbor has always felt like home to me. The opportunity to come back and contribute to the program that gave me so much is truly a dream come true. I was fortunate enough to be a part of the historic Sweet 16 and Elite Eight runs and am looking forward to making more history in a new role.”
This past season, Michigan was a patchwork of a team with just four returners. And while the Wolverines surpassed their own expectations, they still ultimately fell short of their championship dreams. Rauch — with her championship experience — adds another piece to that puzzle. With her addition to the coaching staff, Michigan has added a fresh perspective to an evolving program.
