State Coach of the Year: Mike Hansen

It all came together for the team this season at Dougherty Valley of San Ramon. For winning its first-ever CIF North Coast Section Open Division title and for rising up to compete at the highest levels of the state, head coach Mike Hansen has been named 2023 State Coach of the Year. This also is a nod to his father, Tom, who coached for many years at nearby Foothill of Pleasanton and also was longtime athletic director there.

For our post on each of the divisional boys basketball State Coaches of the Year, CLICK HERE.

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There was a moment during the top division at the Torrey Pines Holiday Classic in San Diego, as the Dougherty Valley of San Ramon boys basketball team was beating San Ysidro (a team ranked much higher in the preseason), when it looked like head coach Mike Hansen was going to have a special team, the best one he’s had since he began the program when the school first opened in 2007.

The Wildcats did indeed go on to have a special season. With three stellar guards — Ryan Beasley, Connor Sevilla and Blake Hudson — leading the way, they went on to beat San Ysidro, 94-72, then lost in a highly competitive game, 62-58, to the No. 1 team in San Diego all season (St. Augustine). After returning home to the Bay Area, Dougherty Valley took the confidence of playing in those games and would win the championship in the East Bay Athletic League, which was later proven to be by far the best league in Northern California.

In the CIF North Coast Section Open Division playoffs, the Wildcats faced two other EBAL squads. They first topped eventual CIF NorCal D1 champion Granada of Livermore, 64-60, and in the final defeated De La Salle of Concord, 65-51. The Spartans later came within one point of upsetting 2022 NorCal Open Division champion Modesto Christian in the first round of the NorCal Open Division playoffs.

While Dougherty Valley also didn’t get past its first NorCal Open opponent with a loss to St. Joseph of Santa Maria, the historically great season from a group that over-achieved perhaps more than any other team that ended in the top 20 of the final state rankings was more than enough for Hansen to gain the 2023 selection as Cal-Hi Sports State Coach of the Year.

Hansen is the second CIF North Coast Section honoree in the five years, following now retired Jonas Honick of Branson Ross in 2019. He’s the first from the East Bay since Bill Mellis in 2012, whose Richmond Salesian program was the only one not belonging to the EBAL to qualify for the NCS open division playoffs this year. In addition to capturing the regular season and EBAL playoff crown, Hansen’s club finished 27-4 and No. 11 in the state.

“My reaction…truly honored, with so many great coaches in our state this is truly an honor,” Hansen told Cal-Hi Sports. “Winning EBAL this year was special. I grew up in this league, played high school ball in this league. And I understand how hard it is to win this league. This year the league may be as talented as it ever has been. To win it with this staff and this group of guys was truly special.”

Hansen himself was a former point guard at Foothill of Pleasanton, where his father Tom Hansen was the coach when the school first opened up in 1973. He was the head coach for the next 20 years and served as athletic director from 1993 until stepping down at the end of the school year in 2005. The elder Hansen was always supportive of all athletics at Foothill, and the EBAL in general, over the years and his older son Tim and daughter Kim also played for him.

Mike Hansen began his coaching career at Ygnacio Valley in Concord 2001-02, three years before his father stepped down at Foothill, and turned around a program that won six games the year prior into a respectable 16-10 club.

“Yes, my dad has been my biggest influence in my coaching career,” this year’s honoree said. “It was special to share our success this season with him. The lessons that most stay with me that help me coaching today come from both my parents. They are both retired educators. The lessons of hard work, believe in your self, surround yourself with great people and teach the details all are a part of the coach I’ve become today.”

Hansen not only absorbed plenty from his father, but also got ringing endorsements for the job he did this season from coaches at Chabot Junior College, Cal-State East Bay, UCLA (where he helped previous coach Steve Lavin run his summer camps) and from China, where he took over coaching the Jilin Northeast Tigers there for a few years from good friend Tony Ronzone, a former NBA scout and standout player at Bishop O’Dowd of Oakland. You can say coaching is in his blood.

“Congratulations to Mike on a much deserving award,” Ronzone said. “Your dedication to student-athletes has always been part of your journey in the basketball world. Keep the dream alive on and off the floor. Enjoy the moment and onto next. Tax free, mate.”

Hansen says that he learned much about coaching basketball not only from his father, but also from many other colleagues and friends.

“Coaching at all levels JUCO, college and in China has taught me that the game is universally similar,” Hansen said. “Yes, the athletes are better at the higher levels, but if you can defend, rebound and share the ball offensively you have a chance to be a really good team. At all those spots I worked for really good coaches who taught me the importance of relationships, caring and loving the guys you coach, and building relationships that last long after basketball is over.”

Since the gym at Foothill is named for his father, who’s knows but someday the gym at Dougherty Valley will be named our 2023 State Coach of the Year.

BOYS BB STATE COACHES
OF THE YEAR ALL-TIME LIST

(Selected by Cal-Hi Sports)

2023 – Mike Hansen,
San Ramon Dougherty Valley (27-4)
2022 – Mike LeDuc, Damien La Verne (31-4)
2021 – Josh Giles, Corona Centennial (21-2)
2020 – Dave Rebibo,
Studio City Harvard-Westlake (25-7)
2019 – Jonas Honick, Ross Branson (31-3)
2018 – Dave Kleckner, Etiwanda (30-4)
2017 – Arnold Zelaya,
San Francisco Mission (35-1)
2016 – Russell White, Encino Crespi (33-4)
2015 – Chuck Rapp, San Mateo Serra (23-6)
2014 – Doug Mitchell,
Torrance Bishop Montgomery (28-6)
2013 – Mike Haupt,
San Diego St. Augustine (29-4)
2012 – Bill Mellis, Richmond Salesian (33-2)
2011 – Eric Cooper, La Verne Lutheran (27-5)
2010 – Dwan Hurt, Gardena Serra (34-2)
2009 – Steve Johnson, Rialto Eisenhower (31-4)
2008 – Dwight Nathaniel, Oakland McClymonds (32-0)
2007 – Harvey Kitani, Los Angeles Fairfax (28-5)
2006 – Peter Diepenbrock, Palo Alto (32-1)
2005 – Pete Newell, Santa Cruz (36-1)
2004 – Don Lippi, Alameda St. Joseph (28-6)
2003 – Zack Jones, San Diego Horizon (32-1)
2002 – Ed Azzam, Los Angeles Westchester (32-2)
2001 – Vance Walberg, Fresno Clovis West (31-3)
2000 – Frank Allocco, Concord De La Salle (31-1)
1999 – Clinton Williams, Oakland Fremont (28-4)
1998 – Jerry DeBusk, Rancho S.M. Santa Margarita (32-2)
1997 – Frank LaPorte, Alameda St. Joseph (31-4)
1996 – Russell Otis, Compton Dominguez (34-2)
1995 – Steve Filios, Mountain View St. Francis (27-8)
1994 – Hank Meyer, Carmichael Jesuit (31-7)
1993 – John Barrette, Palo Alto (31-0)
1992 – Tom Orlich, South Tahoe (30-1)
1991 – Tom McCluskey, Tustin (30-4)
1990 – Lou Cvijanovich, Oxnard Santa Clara (28-0)
1989 – Willie West, L.A. Crenshaw (25-2)
1988 – Reggie Morris, L.A. Manual Arts (27-3)
1987 – Gary McKnight, Santa Ana Mater Dei (31-1)
1986 – Mike Phelps, Oakland Bishop O’Dowd (31-5)
1985 – Stephen Keith, Glendale (28-0)
1984 – Ron Palmer, Long Beach Poly (31-2)
1983 – Jorge Calienes, Rosemead Bosco Tech (25-5)
1982 – Dick Acres, Carson (26-2)
1981 – Maury Halleck, Santa Barbara San Marcos (25-1)
1980 – Leo Allamanno, Oakland Fremont (24-2)
1979 – Dave Shigematsu, Oakland Castlemont (23-3)
1978 – Ben Tapscott, Oakland McClymonds (22-3)
1977 – George Terzian, Pasadena (29-3)
1976 – Bill Armstrong, Palm Springs (22-4)
1975 – John Mihaljevich, Palos Verdes (24-6)
1974 – Dan Risley, Elk Grove (30-0)
1973 – Tom Conway, Stockton Stagg (28-0)
1972 – Tom Cleary, Fresno San Joaquin Memorial (27-2)
1971 – George McQuarn, L.A. Verbum Dei (29-2)
1970 – Spike Hensley, Berkeley (32-0)
1969 – Gordon Nash, La Mesa Helix (29-2)
1968 – Ralph Krafve, East Bakersfield (29-0)
1967 – Frank LaPorte, Oakland Bishop O’Dowd (37-2)
1966 – Len Craven, Whittier Sierra (28-1)
1965 – Leo Allamanno, Oakland Fremont (21-2)
1964 – Bill Mulligan, Long Beach Poly (32-1)
1963 – Bill Armstrong, Compton (27-4)
1962 – Dick Edwards, Sacramento El Camino (23-1)
1961 – Paul Harless, Oakland McClymonds (19-1)
1960 – Bill Thayer, L.A. Fremont (17-1)

List continues back to 1920 in the Cal-Hi Sports State Record Book & Almanac.

Ronnie Flores is the managing editor of CalHiSports.com. He can be reached at ronlocc1977@gmail.com. Don’t forget to follow him on Twitter: @RonMFlores