Dani Harris joined the Aquinas Athletic Department in the fall of 2023 and serves as the head coach of the AQ women's rugby program. Harris is the second head coach in the history of the women's rugby program. In addition to her responsibilities as the women's rugby head coach, Harris also assists the athletic department with project design and planning.
Harris spent the previous 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.
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.
