Tara Danielson

Tara Danielson concluded her 10th season with the Cardinal in 2019, having consistently elevated the program's national standing in the form of both team and individual success.

In addition to making eight NCAA Tournament appearances in 10 seasons, Danielson has guided Stanford to five conference titles, including three of the last four. The Cardinal, which has posted a 153-59 overall record under Danielson, has remained a fixture in the national rankings since November 2010.

A four-time NorPac Coach of the Year and head of the 2018 America East Coaching Staff of the Year, Danielson has mentored 10 All-Americans, highlighted by three-time selection Kelsey Harbin, two-time first-team pick Becky Dru and two-time picks Kelsey Bing and Corinne Zanolli. Stanford has also excelled in the classroom under Danielson, featuring at least eight athletes on the NFHCA National Academic Squad every year. 

Defeating five top-25 teams, Stanford finished 16-7 overall and 5-1 in America East competition in 2019. In addition to capturing its third America East crown in four seasons, the Cardinal also notched an NCAA Championship victory after defeating Miami (Ohio) 3-1 in the opening round.

Guiding the 2018 America East Coaching Staff of the Year, Danielson has helped the Cardinal sweep the conference's top superlatives two years in a row, as Bing and Zanolli were named Goalkeeper and Offensive Player of the Year respectively, in addition to numerous All-America honors.

Stanford wrapped up the 2017 campaign at 13-8 overall, advancing to the NCAA Tournament for the fourth consecutive year. The Cardinal, which repeated as America East champions, was led by NFHCA West Region selections Bing, one of the nation’s top goalkeepers, and Zanolli, who produced Stanford’s best season by a rookie in 12 years.

In 2016, Stanford finished the season ranked No. 12 and qualified for the NCAA Tournament. The Cardinal claimed its first America East Conference championship after joining the league in 2015, a campaign in which Danielson collected her 100th career coaching victory on October 23, 2015 with the Cardinal's 5-1 win over UC Davis.

Danielson led Stanford to its most successful season in program history in 2014. The Cardinal claimed its first NCAA Tournament victory, defeating Louisville 2-1 in overtime. Stanford finished 19-3 overall, maintained a program-high No. 3 national ranking for three consecutive weeks (Oct. 14-Nov. 2) and produced a 4-1 record against top-10 opponents. Stanford's 2014 senior class - the first recruiting class in Danielson's tenure – produced a 68-19 record, the best of any four-year class in school history.

Stanford finished the 2013 season with a 16-5 record, winning 15 games for the fifth consecutive season. The Cardinal earned its fifth straight NorPac West regular season title and appeared in its eighth consecutive NorPac Championship final. Harbin was named a Longstreth/NFHCA First Team All-American, Longstreth/NFHCA All-Region and the NorPac West Player of the Year, while three others also garnered all-region selections.

Stanford wrapped up the 2012 campaign at 16-7 overall, reaching the NCAA Tournament while capturing the NorPac Championship for the fifth time in six years. Perhaps even more impressive, the Cardinal navigated through a grueling non-conference schedule featuring four games against the nation's No. 1-ranked team at the time. Dru, honored for a second straight season as the NorPac Player of the Year, wrapped up her career with 54 goals, 36 assists, 144 points, 311 shots and 15 game-winning goals in 87 games.

Danielson's 2011 squad finished 17-4 overall, was ranked as high as No. 6 and sported a top-10 RPI for the entire season. Boasting six top-20 victories, the Cardinal earned an at-large berth into the NCAA Tournament for the first time in school history. Stanford solidified its status as the conference's premier team, sweeping California in the regular season for its ninth win over the last 13 meetings in the series.

Stanford's winningest first-year head coach, Danielson led Stanford to a 15-6 overall record in 2010. Danielson's debut season resulted in Stanford's 10th NCAA Tournament appearance and third postseason trip in four years. The Cardinal captured its fourth straight NorPac Tournament championship to qualify for another NCAA Play-In game. A 4-2 road upset of No. 8 Wake Forest in late September proved to be a signature victory for Stanford, defeating its highest-ranked opponent since shocking No. 3 Michigan State in 2001. Danielson’s team-oriented philosophy translated into a balanced offensive attack in which 18 players appeared in at least one game, 15 scored at least one goal and 16 registered at least one point.

Danielson was announced as the program's sixth head coach on July 13, 2010. In addition to enjoying an extensive international playing career, Danielson developed a reputation as a pioneer within the field hockey community through her efforts on the developmental level while implementing several successful outreach programs.

Since 2005, Danielson has served as the Chief Executive Officer of RUSH Field Hockey, Inc., a non-profit public benefit corporation committed to the development of field hockey in California. As CEO, Danielson's primary focus included grassroots development and generating community programs that encourage leadership and participation. During her five-year involvement with RUSH, the organization grew from 30 members to over 700, capturing national titles in the California Cup, Festival and National Indoor Tournament.

Danielson was a member of the USA Field Hockey National Team, training and competing at the Olympic level from 1998-2005 while participating in 89 international contests during that span. In addition to representing Team USA at international events such as the Pan American Games, World Cup and Olympic Qualifier, Danielson was also a member of Team USA's National Indoor Field Hockey squad for two seasons (2005-06).

Following stops as an assistant coach at Boston College in 1996 and Connecticut in 1998, Danielson served as the head coach of Sacred Heart during the 2000 campaign.

A native of Greenfield, Mass., Tara Jelley graduated from Massachusetts in 1994 with a degree in sport management. A four-year letterwinner in field hockey and team captain during her senior year, she helped guide the Minutewomen to a pair of Atlantic 10 championships and four NCAA Tournament berths, including a record-breaking 1992 campaign that resulted in a trip to the national semifinals and the program's winningest season in school history.

Danielson was a three-sport standout at Greenfield High School, leading the Green Wave to a Massachusetts state championship in field hockey while also competing in basketball and softball.

Danielson received her master's degree from Springfield College in athletic administration in 1999.

In June 2018, Danielson was inducted into the Bay State Games Hall of Fame and officially honored in a ceremony Wednesday night at Fenway Park. The Bay State Games Hall of Fame was created to recognize participants who have gone on to prestigious and successful athletic careers, as well as former and current coaches, officials, sports organizers and volunteers who have made significant contributions to the organization throughout its history.

Danielson and her husband, Steve, a member of the 1996 USA Olympic Field Hockey team and assistant coach for the program, were married on Apr. 7, 2006. The couple has a daughter.