Football
Rob Hanson
Assistant Coach
Kroencke 3
219-464-5293
Rob.Hanson@valpo.edu
Rob Hanson returned to the sidelines for the Valparaiso Crusaders for the 2006 season after a year’s hiatus. The Valpo defensive line coach was an integral part of the Crusader coaching staff from 1996-2004 prior to taking a year off from football in 2005.
Hanson spent the final eight years of his first stay with the Brown and Gold as the defensive line coach after tutoring linebackers in his first season. During Valpo’s run to the 2003 Pioneer Football League championship, Hanson’s defensive line recorded 16 of the team’s league-leading 28 sacks. The defensive line also played a significant role in the 2000 PFL championship season, recording 24.5 of Valpo’s 40 sacks. Hanson was instrumental in tutoring three-time First Team All-PFL selection Ric Edgcomb from 1998-2001.
Prior to arriving at Valparaiso, Hanson was the head football coach at Highland High School in Highland, Ind. for three years. Before Highland, Hanson served as head football coach at Gavit High School in Hammond, Ind. beginning in 1987. He was a two-time Lake Athletic Conference Coach of the Year after guiding Gavit to two league championships. Before enjoying success at Gavit, Hanson was the defensive coordinator at Wawasee High School for four years, helping lead the Warriors to a state runner-up finish.
Hanson also had previous coaching experience, having served as a part time offensive line coach at Western Michigan University and two years at Ball State University as a graduate assistant, where he coached the defensive line and the linebackers. As a player, Hanson played offensive tackle at Ball State.
Hanson earned his Bachelor of Science and Master of Arts degrees from Ball State in 1976 and 1980 respectively in physical education. Rob and his wife, Linda, have four grown children, Molly, Melissa, Michael, and Mitch, and reside in Hammond.
