Former Assistant Women’s Basketball Coach (2022-23)
Hometown: Sterling, Colorado
College(s): Colorado Mesa University/University of Northern Colorado
Danielle Rinaldo served one year as assistant women’s basketball coach at Dodge City for 2022-23 season, joining the staff in June of 2023. During her one season with the Conqs she helped the team post a 27-7 record and 19-5 in KJCCC for a second place finish in the KJCCC and a berth in the NJCAA Division I National Tournament where the Conquistadors won their first ever postseason game in program history beating East Georgia State 75-57 in the first round. Helped coach several players who earned postseason honors including Paris Santacaterina who earned NJCAA DI third-team All-American honors, whlie Kyriana Jones was named to NJCAA DI & Region 6 All-Tournament teams, and Parris Atkins earned KJCCC DI Defensive Player and Newcomer of the Year. Four Conqs overall picked up All-KJCCC honors.
Rinaldo was on the coaching staff at Laramie County Community College from 2018-2021 helping the program to several accomplishments. She stepped in as head coach during the pandemic for the 2020-21 season and led the team to a 12-10 record. That team finished third in the North sub-region and made it to the second round of regionals while having three Region IX All-Tournament team players and the first two NCAA Division I transfer players in the program’s history. Her team also had the highest team GPA (3.76) in program history. From 2018-2020 she was an assistant coach at Laramie County under Brian Ortmeier, during which she was part of the program's winningest season in 2018-19 as the team went 19-12. Before joining the staff at Laramie County, she was a graduate assistant at the University of Northern Colorado as she worked in the Sports Performance Department working specifically with women’s basketball.
The Sterling, Colorado native was a three-sport athlete in high school (volleyball, basketball, and track) and was a three-time all-state selection in basketball which is the sport she would pursue in college. Rinaldo suited up for Northeastern Junior College helping the team to the NJCAA national tournament and earning All-Region Academic honors. She also played at Colorado Mesa University where she helped the team win a Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference and Region championship, along with a bid to the NCAA DII national tournament.
Rinaldo graduated with her bachelor’s degree in Kinesiology and minor in personal training from Colorado Mesa University and then earned her Master’s in Exercise Science: Social Psychology of Sport and Physical Activity from the University of Northern Colorado. She also is a certified strength and conditioning specialist and has been for the past six years.
