Bio

Danielle Altman enters her 13^th season at the head of the aquatics program at De Anza College.

The aquatics teams consist of Men’s Water Polo (former), Women’s Water Polo and Men’s and Women’s Swimming and Diving. The water polo programs have been solid contenders in the Coast Conference with the men’s program having several 2^nd place finishes in conference and the women’s team competing to finish 3^rd in the Northern Division of the Coast Conference in 2019. Individual honors for water polo have included All-Northern California and All-American honorees. The Men’s and Women’s Swimming and Diving programs have also had multiple 2^nd place team finishes in the Coast Conference.  Altman has coached two state champions and a multitude of All-American’s honorees in swimming and diving.

In 2023, Altman guided freshman Courtney Seljeseth to a record-breaking season. Seljeseth (transferred to UCLA) captured three 3C2A state championships (200IM, 100 & 200 Breaststroke) and was named State Female Co-Swimmer of the Year. She also won all three events at the Coast Conference Championships (Swimmer of the Year & Performance of the Year). Seljeseth was voted De Anza College "Rookie of the Year" and "Performance of the Year." She broke Coast Conference records in those same three events.

Prior to joining the Mountain Lion family, Altman coached the Junior National Women’s Water polo Zone Team for Coastal California from 2008-2010. In addition, Altman served as the head women’s water polo coach at UC Santa Barbara from 2002-2007, where she compiled the first winning record for the Gauchos since 1997 with an 83-76 overall record.

Altman began her collegiate coaching career with the inaugural program at California State University, San Bernardino for four seasons. With the Coyotes, she compiled a four-year record of 64-58 and in 2002, she guided San Bernardino to a 26-8 mark, the best in program history. In her final two seasons with the Coyotes, Altman’s teams posted a combined record of 41-18. Altman’s career record at the Division I and II levels was 147-134.

In addition to her coaching duties, Altman also served as an assistant athletics director. She is the liaison for the Coast Conference Swimming and Diving Programs. Altman has also had several leadership roles in the aquatics community. She served as the Division I-AAA representative of the NCAA Women’s Water Polo Championship Committee as well as the NCAA Water Polo Rules Committee from 2005-2007 and the CCCWPA Vice-President from 2014-2017.

A 1997 graduate of the University of Redlands, Altman received Bachelor of Arts degrees in International Relations and French. She was a three-time All-American selection (First Team All-American water polo player in 1996 and 1997); and a First Team All-Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference selection for her final three seasons. The SCIAC was the first varsity conference for women's water polo in the country. Altman, a former team captain, finished her career as the school's all-time leader in steals.

She was also an All-SCIAC swimmer for three seasons, competing in the 400, IM, 200BS, 50FS.

In 2005, Altman was inducted into the University of Redlands Athletic Hall of Fame as a member of the 1995 Division II National Championship team.

Altman, a member of Phi Beta Kappa, was an Academic All-American in 1995-97 and in cross country in 1995 and was all-conference in swimming for four years. She received her master's degree in education (kinesiology option) from Cal State San Bernardino in 2000.

As part of the DA Physical Education & Athletics Division, Altman teaches a variety of classes including Yoga (certified instructor since 2002) and Physical Stress Management. She has served as Curriculum Committee (2013-present) representative; Academic Senate (2011-13) and Co-Chair General Education Steering Committee (2014-2015). She also taught classes at CSUSB, CSU Fullerton, Fullerton College, and Cypress College. 

Altman resides in Los Gatos with her two children: Xander (13) and Aurora (10).