Grand Rapids, Mich. – The Aquinas College Athletic Department is thrilled to share the hiring of Dani Harris as the women's rugby coach. Harris began her tenure at Aquinas during the 2023-24 season, filling the vacancy left by former coach Laura Miller. She now has the 2024 spring season under her belt and has been working on recruiting talent to come to Grand Rapids.

"We are excited to have Dani Harris here at Aquinas," stated Claudette Charney, who was the Interim Director of Intercollegiate Athletics who oversaw Harris' hiring. "Harris brings a tremendous amount of love, passion, and experience as a professional to our women's rugby program. We can't wait to see women's rugby at Aquinas continue to grow into the future."

Harris has spent that past five years helping to develop and grow the Grand Rapids Growlers Women's Rugby team as the head coach. The Growlers have seen consistent growth throughout the past five seasons since their inception. This growth amounted into the Growlers' most successful season to date in 2023, as the Grand Rapids side took home second place in the Midwest DII finals.

"I am thrilled stepping into the women's rugby coach position and contributing to the growth of women's rugby in the Midwest," stated Harris on her time at Aquinas as the head coach. "The opportunity excites me as it underscores the power of teamwork, resilience, and breaking barriers in women's collegiate rugby. I look forward to supporting and empowering the team, fostering a sense of unity of women's rugby in West Michigan, on and off the field."

Prior to her time with the Growlers, Harris was an assistant rugby coach for Glendale Youth Rugby down in Glendale, Arizona. AQ's head coach also boasts a significant career as a player. She played for the Ferris State Bulldogs from 2008 through 2013 before playing for the Glendale Raptors from 2014 through 2018.

In her time on the Raptor's squad, Harris was part of the Glendale team that took home the WPL National Championship in 2015 and 2016.

When she is not coaching or playing rugby, Harris works for her remodeling and interior design business that she began in 2019. She also started a small farm in 2022 that she runs with her husband where they sell eggs and garlic. They are also planning to offer cut flowers and market chickens in the near future.