Staff Directory
Dave DiIanni
- Title:
- Women's Soccer Head Coach
Dave DiIanni was named the fourth head coach in Michigan women's soccer history on Jan. 27, 2026 after spending the last 12 seasons as the head coach at Iowa.
DiIanni is 19th among active women's soccer head coaches with 346 wins over his 23-year head coaching career, compiling a 346-100-48 (.749) record at Grand Valley State (2003-13) and Iowa (2014-25). His career .749 winning percentage ranks third among current head coaches. He was inducted into both the Spring Arbor Hall of Fame and the Grand Valley State Hall of Fame in 2024.
DiIanni comes to Michigan after serving as the Iowa head coach for the last 12 seasons, compiling a 125-82-30 record as the program’s all-time winningest head coach. He led the Hawkeyes to five NCAA tournament appearances, highlighted by the program's first trip to the Round of 16 in 2024. DiIanni led Iowa to two Big Ten Tournament titles, coming in the spring of 2021 and in 2023. In 2023, Iowa was the No. 8 seed and picked up three wins to raise the trophy as the lowest seed to ever win the Big Ten Tournament.
Last season, Iowa earned the No. 4 seed in the Big Ten Tournament and peaked at No. 5 in the national polls en route to a 12-5-4 overall record and 6-2-3 showing in Big Ten play. The Hawkeyes earned their third consecutive NCAA tournament bid in 2025, beating South Dakota State in the first round to reach the second round for the third straight season.
During his tenure in Iowa City, he helped 23 players earn All-Big Ten honors with four players honored in 2021, 2024 and 2025. He coached 14 athletes to all-region recognition, including four first-team honors. The Hawkeyes also excelled in the classroom with 180 student-athletes earning Academic All-Big Ten honors. He had 10 players named CSC Academic All-District, with two Hawkeyes earning Academic All-America honors twice.
Dilanni turned Iowa into a defensive juggernaut, setting program records for most shutouts in a season (13 in 2023) and fewest goals allowed (12 in 2024). He coached the program’s all-time shutouts leader and wins leaders. Dilanni’s Hawkeyes held opponents to an average of one goal or under in seven of his 12 seasons.
Prior to joining the Hawkeyes, Dilanni spent 11 years coaching at Grand Valley State where he amassed a 221-18-18 record. At GVSU, he led the Lakers to three NCAA DII National Championships, eight NCAA Regional Championships, seven final four appearances, 11 NCAA Tournament berths, nine GLIAC titles and seven GLIAC Tournament titles. He was chosen as the National Soccer Coaches Association of American Coach of the Year three times, including his final season with the Lakers where he finished 24-0-1 while winning the third national championship in five seasons. During his tenure as head coach, he developed 88 players who earned All-GLIAC honors, including seven who were named the GLIAC Offensive Player of the Year and eight who were named the GLIAC Defensive Player of the Year. In addition, 50 players earned All-Region honors and 34 earned All-America laurels.
Before joining the collegiate head coaching ranks, Dilanni was the head coach for seven years at Jackson Lumen Christi High School. His first collegiate coaching experience came at Hillsdale College, where he helped the men’s and women’s team.
In his first coaching role, Dilanni spent seven years working with the Olympic Development Program in Michigan, training and developing the highest level of soccer in the state. He coached the team to four ODP national championships.
DiIanni, a USSF B-licensed coach, earned his associate’s degree from Seneca College in 1993 and his bachelor’s degree from Spring Arbor University in 1997.
He and his wife, Kristy, have two daughters, Karissa and Kelsey.
What They're Saying About Dave DiIanni
“What a phenomenal hire by Michigan. They have just hired a proven winner that has had success at all levels. Dave is not only a great coach but he is someone that really cares about his players. I’ve always admired Dave and is someone who has been very instrumental in my development as a young coach. I’m very excited for a Dave and his family.”
Nate Norman -- Notre Dame Head Coach
"Dave is a development-minded leader, a trusted mentor and one of the sharpest tactical minds in the game. His vision, character, and competitive mindset empower those around him to grow, excel and win in everything they do. He drives his teams to believe in more, work for more and become more. Michigan got a good one!
Katelyn Longino -- GVSU Head Coach
"The University of Michigan has made an outstanding hire in Dave DiIanni. His success in the Big Ten is well-established, and he has consistently built programs that compete at the highest level of our conference while developing exceptional student-athletes. Dave understands what it takes to win in this league, and he will be a tremendous leader for the Wolverines as they begin this next chapter.”
Erica Dambach - Penn State Head Coach
DiIanni is 19th among active women's soccer head coaches with 346 wins over his 23-year head coaching career, compiling a 346-100-48 (.749) record at Grand Valley State (2003-13) and Iowa (2014-25). His career .749 winning percentage ranks third among current head coaches. He was inducted into both the Spring Arbor Hall of Fame and the Grand Valley State Hall of Fame in 2024.
DiIanni comes to Michigan after serving as the Iowa head coach for the last 12 seasons, compiling a 125-82-30 record as the program’s all-time winningest head coach. He led the Hawkeyes to five NCAA tournament appearances, highlighted by the program's first trip to the Round of 16 in 2024. DiIanni led Iowa to two Big Ten Tournament titles, coming in the spring of 2021 and in 2023. In 2023, Iowa was the No. 8 seed and picked up three wins to raise the trophy as the lowest seed to ever win the Big Ten Tournament.
Last season, Iowa earned the No. 4 seed in the Big Ten Tournament and peaked at No. 5 in the national polls en route to a 12-5-4 overall record and 6-2-3 showing in Big Ten play. The Hawkeyes earned their third consecutive NCAA tournament bid in 2025, beating South Dakota State in the first round to reach the second round for the third straight season.
During his tenure in Iowa City, he helped 23 players earn All-Big Ten honors with four players honored in 2021, 2024 and 2025. He coached 14 athletes to all-region recognition, including four first-team honors. The Hawkeyes also excelled in the classroom with 180 student-athletes earning Academic All-Big Ten honors. He had 10 players named CSC Academic All-District, with two Hawkeyes earning Academic All-America honors twice.
Dilanni turned Iowa into a defensive juggernaut, setting program records for most shutouts in a season (13 in 2023) and fewest goals allowed (12 in 2024). He coached the program’s all-time shutouts leader and wins leaders. Dilanni’s Hawkeyes held opponents to an average of one goal or under in seven of his 12 seasons.
Prior to joining the Hawkeyes, Dilanni spent 11 years coaching at Grand Valley State where he amassed a 221-18-18 record. At GVSU, he led the Lakers to three NCAA DII National Championships, eight NCAA Regional Championships, seven final four appearances, 11 NCAA Tournament berths, nine GLIAC titles and seven GLIAC Tournament titles. He was chosen as the National Soccer Coaches Association of American Coach of the Year three times, including his final season with the Lakers where he finished 24-0-1 while winning the third national championship in five seasons. During his tenure as head coach, he developed 88 players who earned All-GLIAC honors, including seven who were named the GLIAC Offensive Player of the Year and eight who were named the GLIAC Defensive Player of the Year. In addition, 50 players earned All-Region honors and 34 earned All-America laurels.
Before joining the collegiate head coaching ranks, Dilanni was the head coach for seven years at Jackson Lumen Christi High School. His first collegiate coaching experience came at Hillsdale College, where he helped the men’s and women’s team.
In his first coaching role, Dilanni spent seven years working with the Olympic Development Program in Michigan, training and developing the highest level of soccer in the state. He coached the team to four ODP national championships.
DiIanni, a USSF B-licensed coach, earned his associate’s degree from Seneca College in 1993 and his bachelor’s degree from Spring Arbor University in 1997.
He and his wife, Kristy, have two daughters, Karissa and Kelsey.
What They're Saying About Dave DiIanni
“What a phenomenal hire by Michigan. They have just hired a proven winner that has had success at all levels. Dave is not only a great coach but he is someone that really cares about his players. I’ve always admired Dave and is someone who has been very instrumental in my development as a young coach. I’m very excited for a Dave and his family.”
Nate Norman -- Notre Dame Head Coach
"Dave is a development-minded leader, a trusted mentor and one of the sharpest tactical minds in the game. His vision, character, and competitive mindset empower those around him to grow, excel and win in everything they do. He drives his teams to believe in more, work for more and become more. Michigan got a good one!
Katelyn Longino -- GVSU Head Coach
"The University of Michigan has made an outstanding hire in Dave DiIanni. His success in the Big Ten is well-established, and he has consistently built programs that compete at the highest level of our conference while developing exceptional student-athletes. Dave understands what it takes to win in this league, and he will be a tremendous leader for the Wolverines as they begin this next chapter.”
Erica Dambach - Penn State Head Coach
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