Former University of Lethbridge Pronghorns men's basketball player Mike Hansen (BA '96, BEd '99, MA '09) is the perfect fit and logical choice to be the new head coach of the program.
A four-year player for the Horns in the early 1990s, Hansen learned under the program's all-time winningest coach, Dave Crook. He's a three-time graduate of the University, has cut his coaching teeth at both the high school and college levels and considers the man he's succeeding, Dave Adams (BEd '82), as one of his coaching mentors and a major influence on his life.
While that's all well and nice, Hansen's pedigree is only as impressive as his eventual win total. It begs the question, can he and the Horns consistently win?
"Four years ago, when I interviewed for this job, one of the reasons I pulled my name was because I wasn't convinced," says Hansen, who also admits he wasn't equipped to coach the program at that time. "Since then, in 2011 we took a bunch of southern Alberta kids at Lethbridge College and we went to the national final and that taught me that it can be done. I think the key is keeping our local talent here, investing in the community and being involved with the development of our players and coaches in the community."
Hansen sounds like a native southern Albertan, and given the community connections he's established over the last 20 years, he's earned the right to claim ownership of the area's basketball interests. A transplanted Newfoundlander, Hansen followed Crook to the U of L after the former Horns bench boss recruited him to and then coached Hansen for a year at Sackville, New Brunswick's Mount Allison University.
"I think our relationship was more of a big brother or father-son relationship," says Hansen. "Even now, when we talk, he can make me feel like I'm a kid, but I can tell you that when I got the job, one of the first calls I received was from him. It's a great feeling to know how proud he is that I've stepped in and taken over the program."
Hansen has seen success at every level, beginning with three league titles, four zone championships and six provincial championship appearances at the high school level. He then moved on to the Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference (ACAC) where he qualified for the playoffs in all five of his seasons, including a run to the national title game with the Lethbridge College Kodiaks in 2010-11.
Hansen's X's and O's game will not be a radical transformation for either Horns players or supporters – coach Norman Dale is not coming to Hickory High.
"I love up-tempo basketball, I love aggressive defensive basketball and kids tend to love that too," he says, taking over a team's roster consisting of 10 players he's previously coached. "We get up and down the floor and I think that's a staple of southern Alberta basketball."
Hansen's greatest asset is more intangible, a philosophy gleaned from Crook's teachings.
"I would call Dave the perfect Canadian coach. In Canada, kids are paying out of pocket to play basketball so they have to have a great experience. I really believe that one of the great things about the U of L is that it is really focused on that student experience," he says. "Dave always did the little things, whether it was flying out late from the coast so that we could enjoy the weather a bit in the middle of winter, or getting up early with him when he'd take us around and show us all the great spots to eat in the different cities.
"There were days when he was hard on us but I don't remember a day where we didn't laugh, and I've carried that philosophy into my coaching as well. Guys know I have high expectations and that they can feel my wrath at times but they also know we're going to find an opportunity to laugh and have some fun every day."
Talk to Hansen about Horns Nation and Pronghorn Pride and the concepts resonate.
"You don't realize how unique southern Alberta is within Canada," he says. "You go to some of the powerhouse programs in Canada West and they might have 60 fans sitting in the stands. We enjoy a level of support that is unparalleled in western Canada and I would argue in almost all of Canada."
He insists he's at a point in his life where it's the right time to be coaching the Horns, both personally and professionally, and he's ready to grow from the foundation that Adams left for him. And while logic tells us a Carleton University-like era of dominance is not possible given the resources available, Hansen isn't shy about saying the Horns can be a team of national relevance.
"I believe we can or otherwise I wouldn't be here," he says, welcoming the inherent pressure that accompanies such lofty goals. "I have enough confidence and belief in what I'm doing now. I accept that there are going to be people who think they know more than I do or know what's best for the program but that comes part and parcel with it. I'm prepared for that and excited about that because I believe that once we put this program among the top 10 in the country, playing in that gym is going to be an amazing experience."
GET THE FACTS
· Hansen met his future wife Anne (neé Trenholm, BSc '99) while she was on the Horns women's basketball team. They have four children named Grace (8), David (8), Allison (7) and Jane (5)
· Hansen was third in team scoring his final season playing for the Horns, averaging 12.4 points per game in 1993-94. Brian Kannekens led the way at 19.9 and rookie Danny Balderson (BA/BEd '01) was next at 15.8
· Hansen has always been focussed on coaching and teaching, coaching his first team (junior varsity high school girls) while in Grade 10 in Newfoundland
This story first appeared in the June 2013 edition of the Legend. For a look at the full issue in a flipbook format, follow this link.