Danielle Thu joined the Coyote track and field staff as the director of operations ahead of the 2015-16 season. She also works with USD's cross country program. Thu enters her fourth year on staff in 2018-19.
In her three seasons at USD, the Coyotes have captured four Summit League Championships and posted six Summit League runner-up finishes. South Dakota won Summit League titles in both women's cross country and women's outdoor track and field in 2017-18.
Thu's duties include budgeting, planning team travel, equipment management and assisting with on-campus recruiting visits, all while following NCAA regulations and university policy. She holds certifications from the USTFCCCA Program Management, the USTFCCCA Strength and Conditioning Program and is a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS).
A 2011 graduate of the University of California at San Diego, Thu was an NCAA Division II champion in the hammer throw in 2009. She launched the hammer a distance of 198-8 to defeat the field by 13 feet and set a UC San Diego program record. Thu was named the 2009 NCAA Division II West Regional Field Athlete of the Year.
After graduation, Thu spent four years as an assistant coach and assistant director of operations at UC San Diego. She worked primarily with the throws at UCSD.
Thu received her master's degree from South Dakota in 2017.
