LEXINGTON, KY  — The American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) announced its 2026 Thirty Under 30 recipients on Wednesday, Mar. 11. UC Davis volleyball associate head coach Danielle (Dee) Davis was announced as one of the honorees for the College awards.

"I'm deeply grateful to be recognized alongside so many incredible coaches and leaders in our sport." Says Davis. "This recognition, to me, reflects the power of coaching athletes in learning how to listen to their bodies, trust themselves, and unlock the performance that comes from that connection."

"I believe the body holds incredible wisdom and finds deep purpose in guiding athletes to reconnect to that intelligence so they can perform from presence, grow, and thrive not only on the court but in life." 

The Thirty Under 30 program recognizes up-and-coming coaches in different sectors of the sport who serve in a range of roles, from head coach to volunteer assistant to club director. Each of this year's recipients had to be aged 30 or under as of Dec. 31, 2025, to qualify for the award.

Serving as the Aggies' mental performance coach the last two seasons, Davis has served as top assistant under head coach Dan Conners through the most successful two season stretch in program history, winning a program best 13 conference wins in 2024 before breaking that record with 16 wins in 2025.

Many players on the team credit Davis' blend of physical and mental performance coaching for the success the team has had over that period.

Ahead of the team's move to the Mountain West in 2026, Davis was promoted to associate head coach of the Aggies, further solidifying her importance on the team.

"Dee's impact reaches far beyond the volleyball court." Said Coach Conners. "She is a future Hall of Famer in whatever she chooses to do.  She brings a light to all those that are fortunate enough to cross paths with her. I'm very grateful to have her as a colleague and friend."

ABOUT UC DAVIS ATHLETICS: 

UC Davis, the No. 2 ranked public university by the Wall Street Journal, is home to 40,000 undergraduate students and 12,000 employees. Ranked No. 1 in Agriculture and Forestry as well as No. 1 in Veterinary Medicine, UC Davis is located in a true California college town nestled between world-class destinations such as the San Francisco Bay Area, Napa Valley and Lake Tahoe. Over 650 Aggie student-athletes compete in 25 Division I varsity sports, with 16 sports transitioning to the Mountain West Conference beginning in 2026–27. 

For more information, visit https://ucdavisaggies.com/.