Legendary Southern Minnesota Basketball Coach Announces Retirement

After more than three decades as the men's basketball coach at Gustavus Adolphus College in St. Peter, MN, Mark Hanson has announced he will retire after the current season. "This place and program, our coaches, alumni and players have been a significant part of my life for the past 40 years years," he says in a story posted on the MIAC website, "It is with a mix of emotions that I make this decision."

Hanson, A Dodge Center, MN graduate in 1978, is the winningest coach in Golden Gusties history with a record of 529-315 at the time of the story (February 7, 2022). The team has several games plus playoffs yet to go.

An eight-time MIAC Coach of the Year, Hanson's Gustavus teams won seven regular season and playoff conference championships. Six times they reached the Sweet 16 of the Division III national tournament, highlighted by a national runner up finish at the end of the 2002-03 season.

Hanson says when he took the position of assistant coach, he told then-Athletic Director Moose Malmquist, "I would try this job for a year. I never envisioned that I would do it for 36 years and interact with fabulous student-athletes, administrators, faculty and staff. I have no idea what I did to deserve this opportunity and I am honored to have been able to do it for this long."

Hanson is a member of the Gustavus Athletics Hall of Fame after scoring 1,774 points during this playing career in St. Peter. He was a four-time All-MIAC honoree and earned Academic All-America recognition as well.

Enter your number to get our free mobile app