With legendary status at the University of Florida, Danielle Fotopoulos is one of the most notable names in the sport of women’s soccer. She enters her 13th year at Eckerd for the upcoming 2022 season, the longest-tenured coach in program history.
The NCAA Division I all-time leading goal scorer and former U.S. National Team member has continued to take the necessary steps to build the program after being appointed to the position in the summer of 2010.
With a total of 62 wins (54 in her last seven seasons) under her belt as head coach, Fotopoulos matched the team's single-win record with 10 victories in the 2012 campaign ('98, '00, '01). Following a strong end to the fall of 2011, the Tritons responded in a big way after being picked to finish ninth and last in the SSC Preseason Poll.
Under the leadership of Fotopoulos, EC claimed its first conference win since 2006 in late September 2012 and rattled off two more league victories before cashing in with the fifth seed in the Florida Blue SSC Championship, the program's first tournament berth. The Tritons went on to upset fourth-seeded Nova Southeastern University in the opening round.
The last eight years have proven to be Fotopoulos's most successful with 54 wins over that span including two fifth-place finishes and a fourth-place finish in conference play. In 2017, Eckerd hosted a conference tournament match for the first time in program history earning the No. 4 seed highlighted by a senior night upset of No. 7 Nova Southeastern.
Fotopoulos became the programs all-time wins leader with a come-from-behind win at Saint Leo on October 3, 2018.
Fotopoulos, a former All-America selection with the Gators, arrived at Eckerd after serving on the U.S. U-14 National ID staff. She is also actively involved with the sport outside of Eckerd as the current head coach of the U-15 National Team.
In Gainesville, she was a two-time SEC Player of the Year at Florida and was the Soccer America Player of the Year in 1998 after leading the Gators to an NCAA championship.
Fotopoulos continued her career with U.S. women’s soccer and was a member of the 1999 FIFA World Cup championship squad. She continued her professional career in the Women’s United Soccer Association and was a two-time all-star selection.
She began her college coaching career in 2003, serving as co-head coach at Louisiana State University. After spending two seasons in Baton Rouge, she later became an assistant coach at her alma mater with the Gators in 2006.
Fotopoulos was inducted into UF’s Hall of Fame in 2008 and into the FHSAA Hall of Fame in 2014. She graduated from the University of Florida with a Bachelor’s Degree in 1999.
She and her husband, George, reside in Land O'Lakes and have four children: Alexia, Will, Michael and Demetri.
| YEAR |
OVERALL |
SSC |
NOTES |
| 2010 |
3-14-1 |
0-8 |
|
| 2011 |
5-12 |
0-8 |
|
| 2012 |
10-7-3 |
3-4-1 |
SSC Semifinals |
| 2013 |
7-10 |
1-7 |
|
| 2014 |
8-8-1 |
3-4-1 |
|
| 2015 |
4-8-3 |
1-6-1 |
|
| 2016 |
7-9-2 |
2-5-2 |
|
| 2017 |
6-8 |
5-5 |
SSC Quarterfinals |
| 2018 |
6-8-1 |
3-7 |
|
| 2019 |
6-7-2 |
2-6-2 |
|
| 2020 |
|
|
No competition due to COVID19 |
| 2021 |
5-8-1 |
3-7 |
|
