Danwka arrives at Hostos with coaching and student-athlete experience at the
NCAA and NJCAA Division III levels, as well as contributing to athletic and
academic success in club and high school settings.
Dankwa broke into the NCAA Division I ranks at Niagara University, serving as
head sprints coach and assistant men's and women's cross country coach for
the Purple Eagles during the 2021–22 season. On the track, Dankwa guided
the team to a seventh-place finish at the 2022 NCAA Northeast Regionals and
a fifth-place showing at the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC)
Outdoor Track & Field Qualifiers. Under his leadership, Niagara set a school
record in the 100-meter hurdles and posted three Top-10 program marks in
the 100-meter hurdles, 400 meters, and 800 meters. Dankwa also
emphasized academic achievement, with 14 student-athletes earning MAAC
All-Academic honors in Fall 2021 and 15 more in Spring 2022.
Prior to his time at Niagara, Dankwa returned to his alma mater, Mohawk
Valley Community College, in 2019 to assist with the men's and women's
sprints and relays. During the indoor season, five of his athletes earned
podium finishes, and the team posted a 3.52 grade-point average—the
third-highest among all athletic programs at the college.
Dankwa starred at Mohawk Valley Community College, where he was
crowned the 2015 NJCAA Indoor Region III 60m champion. He also
contributed to a school-record-setting indoor 4x400m relay team and placed
sixth in the 100m dash at the NJCAA National Championships. In addition to
competing in both indoor and outdoor track and field from 2015-16, Dankwa
ran the 2015 season as a member of the cross country team. He later
transferred to Buffalo State University, where he competed for two seasons
(2021, 2023) in indoor and outdoor track & field and one season (2021) in
cross country, while earning his bachelor's degree in Health and Wellness in
2023.
From 2022-24, From 2022 to 2024, Dankwa coached at Health Sciences
Charter School in Buffalo, serving as head boys' track & field coach and
assistant coach for the girls' team. During his tenure, Dankwa helped produce
19 Section VI qualifiers, guided athletes to seven podium finishes across the
2023–24 indoor and outdoor seasons, and oversaw the breaking of 11 school
records. In the classroom, his student-athletes achieved a 3.78 GPA—the
highest among all sports teams at the school.
Always eager to help others, the Bronx native began his coaching career in
2016 as a volunteer with the Bronx-based club Eclipse Track & Field,
instructing athletes aged 8 to 18 across two cross-country and track seasons.
During the 2017 season, two runners earned podium finishes at the USA
Track & Field (USATF) Region I qualifiers, while athletes in the 13-14 and
18-19 age divisions competed at the USATF Junior Olympic Qualifiers.
A graduate of The Kurt Hahn Expeditionary Learning School in Brooklyn,
Dankwa competed in notable events throughout his scholastic career,
including the 2010 New York Road Runners (NYRR) Millrose Games at
Madison Square Garden, New Balance Indoor Nationals (2012, 2013), the
2012 USATF Junior Olympics, New Balance Outdoor Nationals (2013), the
2013 New York Diamond League Adidas Grand Prix USA vs. the World (High
School Boys), and the Penn Relays.
As a New York City resident, Dankwa adds value to his programs through
certifications in Strength and Conditioning from the International Sports
Sciences Association (ISSA) and Therapeutic Arts Life Coaching from
Transformation Services Incorporated.
Since 2022, Dankwa has successfully led teams at LA Fitness in Buffalo and
Blink Fitness in New York City, enhancing team performance, member
engagement, and retention through strategic leadership and
community-driven initiatives. Starting this year, he also serves as a Track
Coach/Return-To-Sport Performance Coach for Recalibrate Physical Therapy here in New York City.
