Men's Basketball
Hanson, David

David Hanson
- Title:
- Assistant Coach
- Email:
- drhanson@calpoly.edu
- Phone:
- 805-756-2354
Twitter: @CoachDHanson
David Hanson, a former three-year starter and All-Big West Conference selection for Cal Poly (2008-12), is in his fourth season as an assistant coach with the Mustangs.
“When I found out that I was hired at Cal Poly, my first instinct was to keep an assistant that has ties to the Central Coast and the university,” said second-year head coach John Smith of Hanson, who leads Cal Poly’s post player development and serves as the program’s liaison with the athletics department and the campus. “I feel I hit a home run with coach Hanson. Not only does he fulfill the aforementioned qualities, he’s also a phenomenal coach who has a great rapport with the players and everybody on campus. I feel he has the makings to become a great head coach one day.”
Under Smith, Hanson serves as Cal Poly’s recruiting coordinator, overseeing all of the program’s recruiting activities. Known as a tireless recruiter, Hanson boasts strong ties to the East Coast, Midwest and California. Hanson also heads up on-floor player development, with emphasis on interior players. Other responsibilities include opponent scouting, film breakdown and in-game coaching.
“I’m beyond excited to work for coach Smith and with our staff,” Hanson said. “(Smith) has the whole package. He’s demonstrated – at a high level – the ability to recruit, develop young men and win basketball games. His ability to build authentic recruiting relationships with today’s student-athletes is second-to-none.
“His track record in player development speaks for itself – all of the players he’s coached have shown significant improvement over the courses of their careers. Coming from a former Cal Poly player, coach Smith embodies all of the characteristics of what it means to be a Mustang. He’s been a home run hire and is going to lead the men’s basketball program to success on and off the floor.”
Before returning to Cal Poly in 2018, Hanson spent three years at the grassroots level working with the New York Renaissance, one of the top Nike EYBL programs in the country. With the Rens, Hanson was heavily involved in all aspects of the organization, with focus on recruiting and on-floor coaching. During Hanson’s time, the NY Rens achieved unprecedented success, qualifying for Peach Jam each summer and winning multiple games. Hanson helped more than 20 players go on to play Division I basketball, with a majority attending the top programs in the country. In addition, several players have gone on to play in the NBA, including Hamidou Diallo (Oklahoma City Thunder) and Rawle Alkins (Chicago Bulls).
Prior to his stint with the NY Rens, Hanson served as a graduate assistant for two seasons (2013-2015) on head coach Jamie Dixon’s staff at Pitt, one of the most decorated and successful Power 5 men’s basketball programs in the country. In Hanson’s first season, Pitt finished fifth in the Atlantic Coast Conference, posted a 26-10 record and was consistently in the AP Top 25 poll. The Panthers advanced to the 2014 NCAA Tournament round of 32 with a convincing victory over Pac-12 opponent Colorado. At Pitt, Hanson was instrumental in the development of numerous all-conference and future NBA players in Lamar Patterson (Atlanta Hawks), Talib Zanna (Oklahoma City Thunder), Mike Young (Washington Wizards) and Jamel Artis (Orlando Magic). With Pitt, Hanson led on-floor player development for both perimeter and interior players, film breakdown and analysis, game planning and scouting reports.
A native of Plymouth, Minn., Hanson attended Cal Poly in 2008-2012, where he was a two-time All-Big West Conference selection and three-year team captain. He finished his career at Cal Poly as one of only five players in program history to score at least 1,200 career points and grab more than 600 rebounds. Hanson ranks fifth all-time at Cal Poly in appearances (122), seventh in rebounds (628), eighth in points (1,267), ninth in three-pointers (154) and 10th in steals (95). As a senior, he was also a 2012 All-Big West Tournament selection.
Hanson earned his bachelor’s degree from Cal Poly in business administration with a concentration in finance in 2012. He received his master’s degree in higher education management from the University of Pittsburgh in 2015.
David is married to the former Annie Busch and the couple resides in Pismo Beach, Calif.
David Hanson, a former three-year starter and All-Big West Conference selection for Cal Poly (2008-12), is in his fourth season as an assistant coach with the Mustangs.
“When I found out that I was hired at Cal Poly, my first instinct was to keep an assistant that has ties to the Central Coast and the university,” said second-year head coach John Smith of Hanson, who leads Cal Poly’s post player development and serves as the program’s liaison with the athletics department and the campus. “I feel I hit a home run with coach Hanson. Not only does he fulfill the aforementioned qualities, he’s also a phenomenal coach who has a great rapport with the players and everybody on campus. I feel he has the makings to become a great head coach one day.”
Under Smith, Hanson serves as Cal Poly’s recruiting coordinator, overseeing all of the program’s recruiting activities. Known as a tireless recruiter, Hanson boasts strong ties to the East Coast, Midwest and California. Hanson also heads up on-floor player development, with emphasis on interior players. Other responsibilities include opponent scouting, film breakdown and in-game coaching.
“I’m beyond excited to work for coach Smith and with our staff,” Hanson said. “(Smith) has the whole package. He’s demonstrated – at a high level – the ability to recruit, develop young men and win basketball games. His ability to build authentic recruiting relationships with today’s student-athletes is second-to-none.
“His track record in player development speaks for itself – all of the players he’s coached have shown significant improvement over the courses of their careers. Coming from a former Cal Poly player, coach Smith embodies all of the characteristics of what it means to be a Mustang. He’s been a home run hire and is going to lead the men’s basketball program to success on and off the floor.”
Before returning to Cal Poly in 2018, Hanson spent three years at the grassroots level working with the New York Renaissance, one of the top Nike EYBL programs in the country. With the Rens, Hanson was heavily involved in all aspects of the organization, with focus on recruiting and on-floor coaching. During Hanson’s time, the NY Rens achieved unprecedented success, qualifying for Peach Jam each summer and winning multiple games. Hanson helped more than 20 players go on to play Division I basketball, with a majority attending the top programs in the country. In addition, several players have gone on to play in the NBA, including Hamidou Diallo (Oklahoma City Thunder) and Rawle Alkins (Chicago Bulls).
Prior to his stint with the NY Rens, Hanson served as a graduate assistant for two seasons (2013-2015) on head coach Jamie Dixon’s staff at Pitt, one of the most decorated and successful Power 5 men’s basketball programs in the country. In Hanson’s first season, Pitt finished fifth in the Atlantic Coast Conference, posted a 26-10 record and was consistently in the AP Top 25 poll. The Panthers advanced to the 2014 NCAA Tournament round of 32 with a convincing victory over Pac-12 opponent Colorado. At Pitt, Hanson was instrumental in the development of numerous all-conference and future NBA players in Lamar Patterson (Atlanta Hawks), Talib Zanna (Oklahoma City Thunder), Mike Young (Washington Wizards) and Jamel Artis (Orlando Magic). With Pitt, Hanson led on-floor player development for both perimeter and interior players, film breakdown and analysis, game planning and scouting reports.
A native of Plymouth, Minn., Hanson attended Cal Poly in 2008-2012, where he was a two-time All-Big West Conference selection and three-year team captain. He finished his career at Cal Poly as one of only five players in program history to score at least 1,200 career points and grab more than 600 rebounds. Hanson ranks fifth all-time at Cal Poly in appearances (122), seventh in rebounds (628), eighth in points (1,267), ninth in three-pointers (154) and 10th in steals (95). As a senior, he was also a 2012 All-Big West Tournament selection.
Hanson earned his bachelor’s degree from Cal Poly in business administration with a concentration in finance in 2012. He received his master’s degree in higher education management from the University of Pittsburgh in 2015.
David is married to the former Annie Busch and the couple resides in Pismo Beach, Calif.