Danielle Scaffidi is originally from Patchogue, New York, and currently resides in Dunedin, Florida. Danielle is a Life Coach at Sweetwine Enterprises and a former Division I track and cross-country athlete who competed at the University of Central Florida. She began running competitively in eighth grade and continued through college. She also competed in tennis throughout middle and high school and later played roller derby in an adult league from 2018–2020. 

During college, Danielle experienced Achilles tendonitis caused by overuse. The injury was painful enough to take her out of competition for several months and challenged more than her physical ability to perform. Being unable to compete caused her to question her identity outside of athletics and contributed to struggles with self-esteem. 

Through athletic training and physical therapy, Danielle eventually recovered and returned to competitive running. The experience showed her how resilient she was and changed the way she viewed recovery, nutrition, communication, and self-advocacy. She learned the importance of listening to her body, properly fueling herself, and speaking with coaches when her training needed to be modified. 

That experience shaped one of Danielle’s core beliefs:

Athletes need balance between sports, academics, and their personal lives.

Today, Danielle helps current and former athletes develop confidence, manage pressure, create stronger routines, advocate for themselves, and establish an identity and direction that extend beyond athletic performance.

WHAT DANIELLE HELPS ATHLETES WITH

• Confidence

• Identity beyond sport

• Transitioning out of athletics

• Managing pressure

• Building structure

• Balancing life + sport

• Direction after sports

• Life planning

Danielle has personally experienced the challenges of developing confidence and discovering who she was outside of her sport. As a student-athlete in a rigorous academic program, she also had to learn how to balance school, athletics, and her social life while managing the pressure associated with each. Her transition into further education and a career in physical therapy also allowed her to stay connected to athletics and wellness while developing a life beyond being a competitive athlete. Danielle enjoys working with individuals across different age groups and has particularly enjoyed working with youth and senior populations. 

COACHING STYLE

Danielle brings a supportive, validating, structured, and nonjudgmental approach to coaching.

When someone comes to her for support, her priority is establishing genuine rapport and creating an environment where athletes feel comfortable expressing what they are experiencing. She believes people are more receptive to growth when they feel understood rather than judged. 

Athletes working with Danielle can expect:

• A supportive and nonjudgmental environment

• Honest conversations about challenges in and out of sport

• Help building confidence and self-advocacy

• Practical resources they can apply independently

• Support creating structured daily routines

• Strategies for remaining composed under pressure

• Recognition of progress and smaller wins

• Support navigating athletic and life transitions

Danielle believes current and former athletes need to feel understood, validated, and valued for what they contribute both on and off their teams. She also recognizes that athletes often carry pressures that people outside of competitive sports may not fully understand.

WHAT MAKES DANIELLE DIFFERENT

Danielle’s approach is shaped by firsthand experience with Division I athletics, injury, rehabilitation, academic pressure, identity challenges, and the transition into a health-focused professional career.

She understands:

• The pressure of competing at the Division I level

• The expectations athletes place on themselves

• What it feels like when teammates and coaches are depending on your performance

• The physical and emotional effects of an overuse injury

• Being removed from competition unexpectedly

• Rebuilding confidence after an injury

• Questioning your identity when sport is temporarily taken away

• Balancing athletics, academics, and a personal life

• Learning how to advocate for yourself with coaches

• The importance of recovery and proper fueling

• The transition from competitive athletics into life afterward

In addition, Danielle brings:

• NCAA Division I track and cross-country experience

• Competitive tennis experience

• Adult roller derby experience

• Licensed Physical Therapist Assistant credentials

• Certified Personal Trainer credentials

• Bachelor of Science in Behavioral Health

• Bachelor of Science in Health Sciences

A NOTE FROM DANIELLE

“When I was a student-athlete, I wish someone would have taught me techniques to feel more grounded when the pressure was high before competition and helped me celebrate all of my wins, no matter how small, so I could continue building confidence.”

“Experiencing an injury helped me realize that I was more resilient than I had given myself credit for. Returning to competitive running gave me a new appreciation for my sport and taught me the importance of recovery, properly fueling my body, and advocating for myself.”

“Athletes expect a lot from themselves, especially when they know their team and coaches are counting on them. Sometimes sport can begin to feel like your entire identity, which makes it difficult to understand who you are away from competition.”

“My goal is to help athletes feel confident in who they are both in and out of sports, take care of themselves through actionable daily steps, and remain composed under pressure.”

DANIELLE’S PHILOSOPHY

“Athletes struggle most when they don’t have balance between sports, academics, and their personal lives.”

“Athletes grow the most when they feel supported, have a structured daily routine, and can advocate for their wants and needs.”

“My goal is to help athletes feel confident in who they are both in and out of sports, take care of themselves daily by taking actionable steps, and remain composed under pressure.”

Fun Fact: Outside of coaching, Danielle is an avid reader and enjoys sports fiction, mystery, and romance. She loves animals and volunteers caring for horses, cats, and dogs. She also enjoys spending time with friends and family and traveling to explore new cities with her husband.