Wisconsin Badgers

A former All-Big Ten standout for the Badgers, Danny Westerman has wasted little time returning his alma mater to the national stage. Entering his 10th season at UW in 2024-25, Westerman has built a record of 93-104 (.472), leading the Badgers to the 2017 NCAA Tournament for the first time in seven years. His 93 career wins rank fourth in program history while his .472 winning percentage is the fourth-best mark among coaches that coached 100 or more matches at UW. 

In 2022-23, Westerman's Badgers posted an 11-11 overall record and a 4-5 Big Ten record, good for sixth place in the conference. 

During the 2021-22 season, Westerman led the Badgers to a 3rd place finish in the Big Ten, their first top-three Big Ten finish since tying for second in 2008. 

Under Westerman, the Badgers won at least 14 matches in his first three seasons at the helm, including a mark ot 18-8 in 2016-17, the eighth-highest single-season win total in program history.

In the 2017-18 season, Chema Carranza and Josef Dodridge qualified for the NCAA championships in doubles play, advancing to the second round. Their NCAA success came after the duo became the first in program history to win the ITA Midwest Regional doubles championship. During the season, the duo were ranked as high as No. 3 in the nation.

In 2016-17, Wisconsin also finished with seven conference wins, the team’s highest mark since 2010 and advanced to the second round of the NCAA tournament for just the fourth time in program annals. They finsihed the 2017 season natiaonlly ranked No. 28—the program's second best finish in history. 

In 2015-16, Westerman led the Badgers to their winningest season in six years, finishing with an overall record of 14-9 (4-7 Big Ten) and effectively doubling their total wins from the previous season. Westerman got the Badgers off to the greatest start in program history, opening the season with a mark of 13-1.

The Westerman File

Hometown

Los Angeles, Calif.

Family

Wife, Elizabeth

Sons, James and Thomas

Education

B.S., Marketing & Management, Wisconsin, 2002

M.B.A., Wisconsin, 2005

Coaching Experience

Head Coach, Wisconsin (2015-present)

Head Coach, Denver (2007-2014)

Assistant Coach, Wisconsin (2004-2006)

In three seasons, Westerman has coached the Badgers to a total 13 wins over ranked teams, highlighted by a 4-2 victory over No. 19 Northwestern in 2017.

Individual success has also followed during Westerman's tenure as Lamar Remy and Josef Dodridge took home All-Big Ten honors in 2017, with Remy becoming the first Wisconsin player to earn first-team all-conference honors since 2011. In 2018, Daniel Soyfer earned first-team All-Big Ten honors. 

In 2016-17, all six of Wisconsin's starters reached the 20-win milestone. Prior to that year, the Badgers had not had any 20-match winners since 2010. Chema Carranza led Wisconsin with 28 wins, the most by a Badger since 2010. Daniel Soyfer posted a mark of 26-11, owning the most wins by a UW freshman since at least 1990. Fellow freshman Chase Colton’s 22 wins served as the fifth-highest freshman win total in school annals. Osgar O'Hoisin (25-16), Dodridge (24-18) and Remy (23-15) rounded out the Badgers’ 20-win club.

"We're extremely excited to welcome Danny back to campus," said UW Director of Athletics Barry Alvarez in 2015. "He had great success during his playing career at Wisconsin and we've followed and admired his accomplishments at the University of Denver. Danny pairs a winning attitude, head coaching experience and a passion for Badgers athletics that makes him a natural for this position. He has the knowledge of what it takes for Wisconsin to return to postseason play."

Westerman returned to UW after a successful nine-year stint as the head coach at the University of Denver. Westerman led Denver to the NCAA tournament in each of the last three seasons, which included the school's first-ever NCAA tournament win in 2013 over #15 Florida in Gainsville, Fla. The win signified the first time a top-16 seed lost in the first round since the NCAA Tournament moved to a 64 team event.

In nine seasons at Denver, he guided the Pioneers to a mark of 123-83-1 (.597) and a total of five NCAA tournament appearances. Westerman's teams garnered 21 All-Conference singles honors and seven doubles teams were named all-conference. Over the last three seasons, a total of 15 Pioneers took home academic all-conference honors.

In 2015, Westerman was named ITA Mountain Region Coach of the Year after Denver's 18-9 campaign that included a perfect 5-0 conference mark and Summit League championship. The Los Angeles native guided the Pioneers to three of the four highest single-season win totals in school history, equaling the school's record with 19 wins in 2010.

Prior to arriving at Denver, Westerman served as an assistant coach for three seasons at his alma mater, the University of Wisconsin. From 1998-2002, Westerman enjoyed one of the most successful playing careers in UW history. Just the fifth three-time All-Big Ten selection at UW, Westerman also claimed the prestigious Big Ten Medal of Honor in 2002.

He finished his career fourth in Badgers history with 92 singles wins and his .634 (92-53) career winning percentage ranked eighth in school annals at the time of his graduation. Westerman reached No. 16 in the individual national singles rankings and registered a 63-47 doubles record in his four seasons. 

During the fall of 2001, he became the first UW player to win the ITA Midwest Regional championship. Westerman posted a 27-12 record in 2002 and finished the season ranked 29th in the nation. He also earned his first trip to the NCAA singles championship that year, becoming one of only 16 Badgers since 1950 to do so. He earned three Academic All-Big Ten selections in his career and was the 2001-02 team co-captain.

Westerman graduated with a bachelor's degree in marketing and management from Wisconsin in 2002 and earned his MBA from the School of Business at UW in 2005. He has served as a member of the Intercollegiate Tennis Association Division I Men's Tennis Operating Committee. Westerman and his wife, Elizabeth, who is a Madison native and former UW women's tennis letterwinner, have two boys, James, and Thomas, who was born in May of 2015. He currently serves as the Midwest Regional Chair for the ITA. 

What they're saying about Westerman...
"Not only does Danny have the results to prove that he's a very qualified coach, but he has all the respect from coaches around the country and he is very well liked by recruits and players. For him to take a program like Denver and do what they've done over the last four or five years proves he has the pedigree to be Wisconsin's coach. Whether or not he went to Wisconsin, he is the right coach. The fact that he is an alum, makes it even more special. I won't be surprised if he has Wisconsin winning a Big Ten title in the near future."
- David Roditi, TCU head coach

"I've known Danny for many years and Wisconsin has hired an exceptional person and head coach. I'm excited to have him in the Big Ten, except for the fact that I'll now have to face him. He's been a great friend and I'm thrilled for him and his family. He'll do great things for the Badgers."
- Adam Steinberg, former Michigan head coach, current Florida head coach

"Danny has quickly emerged as one of the brightest young minds in college tennis. It's been a joy to see his career thrive as a player and assistant at Wisconsin, then as a tremendously successful head coach at Denver. He is a Badger through and through and will represent the University of Wisconsin with the highest degree of leadership, integrity and success."
- Billy Pate, Princeton head coach