Columbia International University Athletics

Danielle Fleming enters her third year as CIU's head women's basketball coach coming off two historical seasons with the Rams. Fleming's first year at the helm saw CIU set the program record for wins as the Rams finished the year 16-17 overall and completed the biggest turnaround in the Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC), going from 3-21 in the conference in 2019-2020 to 10-12 in the AAC during the 2020-2021 season. Fleming's squad capped off their season with a successful postseason as the Rams won their first-ever AAC Tournament game over Milligan (Tenn.) 93-78 in front of their home crowd in the Moore Fitness Center.

CIU found more postseason success in the NCCAA South Region Tournament as they defeated both Erskine (S.C) and Carolina (N.C.) on their way to their first-ever South Region Championship. CIU would go 1-2 in at the NCCAA National Championship Tournament, but Fleming was named the NCCAA South Region Coach of the Year, the first CIU women's basketball coach ever to receive the honor. The Rams had several players win individual awards as CIU had two players named All-AAC, three players named All-NCCAA South Region, and a player elected to the AAC All-Freshman Team. 

Fleming continued to build off her team's success in 2021-2022 with another 16-win season as the Rams went 16-19 overall and were .500 in the AAC, going 12-12 in the conference. The Rams found more postseason wins picking up an AAC Tournment road win, upsetting Union College (Ky.) in the conference tournament opening round. Fleming added another postseason victory to her growing total in the South Region tournament as CIU defeated Paine College to win their second consecutive NCCAA South Region title and secure a trip to the 2022 NCCAA National Championship Tournament. 

Fleming's 2021-2022 squad also saw CIU women's basketball's first NCCAA All-American as graduate-student Teena Heston was bestowed with the honor following the season. 

Fleming came to the Rams by way of Southern Arkansas University, where she was the top women's basketball assistant for two seasons. While with the Muleriders, Fleming contributed to the best turnaround in NCAA DII, turning a 3-25 season in 2018-19 into a 17-12 season in 2019-20. Fleming also assisted in the player development of Kisi Young, who was named All-Great American Conference Honorable Mention.  

Before her stint at Southern Arkansas, Fleming spent time in the Ohio high school ranks at both Licking Heights High School and The Wellington School. During the 2017-18 season at the helm of The Wellington School, Fleming steered her program to a 15-10 record and district semi-final appearance. In her time at Licking Heights, Fleming notched 29 wins over two seasons while leading the Hornets to their school record in wins in her first season. While at Licking Heights, Fleming coached multiple All-Conference and All-District players as well as a Conference Player of the Year. 

Fleming also spent time on the sidelines for the Ohio Red AAU basketball team and worked with the Buckeye Leadership Institute. 

In addition to her coaching duties, Fleming has enjoyed being on the board of the Girls Leadership Basketball Academy (GLBA). The GLBA uses basketball as a way to help develop leadership skills in female athletes to help them succeed on the court, in the classroom and life. Flemings' primary duties with GLBA entailed been a Basketball Skill Development Coach.  

As a player, Fleming had a highly successful career at fellow NCCAA school Ohio Christian University where she garnered NCCAA Division II Player of the Year recognition in 2011. Fleming was named an NCCAA All-American First Team, the NCCAA Mid-East Region Co-Player of the Year, and All-OCAC First-Team. Most notably, however, Fleming led OCU to the 2011 NCCAA National Championship game during her junior season, falling just short of becoming a national champion. 

Fleming graduated from Ohio Christian in 2012 with a bachelor's degree in psychology and then continued her education, receiving a masters in education with a coaching emphasis from Northcentral University. Fleming is joined in her coaching endeavors by her husband, Daron, who serves the Rams as an assistant coach.