Thursday, May 26, 2016
by Simon Fraser Athletic Communications

BURNABY, B.C. - Steve Hanson, a long-time British Columbia high school coach who served as an assistant at Simon Fraser University, has been appointed as the school's head coach of the men's basketball program.
 
Hanson, who is not related to Simon Fraser athletic director Theresa Hanson, was the lead assistant on the Clan men's basketball team this past season and has been interim head coach of the program since Apr. 7. Prior to joining Simon Fraser, Hanson coached Terry Fox Secondary to the 2012 BC High School Boys Basketball 3A provincial championship and led the Ravens to a second place finish at the 2015 4A tournament.
 
"We have to re-establish stability and re-establish credibility with our men's basketball program," said Theresa Hanson. "Steve has demonstrated technical expertise in his coaching and teaching abilities, and he displays the personal character that Simon Fraser values so highly."
 
"Steve will lead the program with integrity, class and mutual respect while ensuring our student-athletes reach their full potential in their academic and athletic endeavors," she said.
 
"This is a challenge of a lifetime and we are going to build this the right way on the court and graduate players who will go on to do great things," said Steve Hanson. "I fully understand the opportunity and challenge that comes with being Canada's only NCAA men's basketball team and I am going to put in the work recruiting, preparing the team and connecting with alumni to build a program we all can be proud of."
 
Steve Hanson, 41, is a native of Coquitlam with deep roots in the British Columbia basketball community. Terry Fox had a 93–27 record during Hanson's four-year tenure as head coach. He was also an assistant to Canadian coaching legend Rich Chambers at Terry Fox for six years.
 
Hanson's coaching resume includes Head Coach of the Canada Basketball Centre for Performance (CP) program in British Columbia where he worked with BC's elite players.  Previous CP head coaches include Jay Triano, Scott Clark, Rich Goulet and Rich Chambers.   Hanson was also an AAU Coach with the 3D Basketball Academy where he led their boys' academy for three years. He has the equivalent of Level 3 certification from the National Coaching Certification Program (NCCP).
 
Hanson has ties to Simon Fraser University as well. He received his Bachelor of Education from Simon Fraser in 2013. Hanson is married to Mary-Anne, and they hey have one son, Adryan, who played for the Clan in 2009-10 before going on to a successful international modelling career.
 
As the lead assistant on the Clan last season, Hanson is familiar with the Great Northwest Athletic Conference.
 
"In order to compete in the GNAC we need to recruit the right individual for SFU's high academic standards and players that want to develop in our system," explained Steve.  "I want to recruit athletes that value a world-class education, that want to live in one of the best cities in the world and that want to play against NCAA competition."
 
Hanson is an excellent communicator and skilled at building relationships. His Terry Fox teams were known for their competitiveness on the court, their team-first attitude and their engagement within the community.
 
Hanson is the eighth head coach in the history of the men's basketball program at Simon Fraser. He assumes control of the program immediately and will now begin assembling a coaching staff.
 
"We are committed to building men's basketball into one of our flagship athletic programs at the university and we know it is not going to happen overnight," said Theresa Hanson. "This is a positive step forward and I'm looking forward to the future of men's basketball."
 
Steve Hanson also spent six years as a Speed & Strength Specialist with Gridiron Sports Development Inc., working with players in the NFL, CFL and NHL. 
 
Hanson received a Bachelor of Physical Education and Coaching from Douglas College in 2011.