Peyton McDaniel - Staff Directory

Peyton McDaniel

Title:
Assistant Coach/Academic Mentor

Player Page

Peyton McDaniel enters her first season as an assistant coach for the women’s basketball program for the 2026-27 season.

McDaniel wrapped up her illustrious career in Harrisonburg ranked No. 3 in points (2,325) and fourth in rebounds (1,025) in program history. The sharpshooter also finished second in three-pointers (345) and tied for sixth in three-point percentage (35.0%).

The 2026 grad played in the second-most games of any JMU player, making 154 appearances. The veteran finished fourth in free-throw percentage (81.1%), while on the defensive end, the Birdsboro, Pa. native tallied the eighth-most steals in program history (186).

Career highlights for the two-time Sun Belt Tournament Champion include being named the 2026 Sun Belt Tournament Most Outstanding Player, a 2024-25 CSC Academic All-American, the 2024-25 Sun Belt Female Student Athlete of the Year, 2022-23 Sun Belt Sixth Woman of the Year, and the 2021 CAA Rookie of the Year.