Tyler Hanson joined the Eastern Kentucky University baseball staff as the team’s recruiting coordinator and hitting coach in August 2015.
Over the course of his eight seasons of coaching college baseball, Hanson has mentored 25 players who have signed professional contracts.
This past season, Hanson saw his work with first baseman Ben Fisher result in multiple All-America honors, Ohio Valley Conference Co-Player of the Year Award, and being drafted in the 21st round by the Miami Marlins. Along the way, Fisher broke the program record for home runs in a season, was named national player of the week multiple times and ranked among the top three in the nation in home runs, runs and slugging.
As a team, EKU ranked among the top-50 in the nation in 2017 in home runs per game (17th), home runs (23rd), slugging percentage (29th), scoring (32nd), batting average (38th), doubles per game (44th), runs (47th) and hits (48th).
In addition, Hanson helped the Colonels accomplish two things that had never been done before. EKU swept three-game series against non-conference opponents on back-to-back weekends. Eastern also won three non-conference, three-game weekend series for the first time in program history.
“I am extremely honored that coach Edwin Thompson and the Eastern Kentucky University athletics department gave me this opportunity to be a part of the Colonel baseball program,” Hanson said. “I'm very excited to work with coach Thompson and the rest of his staff to elevate the EKU program to the highest level.”
With Hanson’s guidance in 2016, the Colonel offense was much improved in several areas. The team raised its batting average by 10 points, scored 76 more runs, had 86 more hits, slammed seven more home runs and drew 50 more walks than the year before. As a team, EKU was 10th in the country in home runs per game, 13th in total home runs, 31st in slugging and 50th in scoring.
Hanson helped the Colonels to victories over two ranked Southeastern Conference teams. EKU overcame a 6-run deficit in the eighth inning to beat No. 13 Mississippi State in 10 innings. Later in the season, Eastern knocked off 28th ranked Kentucky.
Hanson also coached a pair of Major League Draft picks. Mandy Alvarez led the nation in hits per game, was named the Ohio Valley Conference Co-Player of the Year and was drafted in the 17th round by the New York Yankees. Kyle Nowlin broke the program record for home runs and walks in a season in 2016 and was drafted in the 21st round by the Oakland Athletics.
“I am glad to have Tyler on our staff,” Thompson said. “Tyler has grown each year as a person and a coach since I recruited him back when he was in high school. He is the right person to lead our recruiting, as he has earned the reputation as an old-fashion worker. He does a great job to find the student-athlete that will be successful on the field and in the classroom.”
Hanson previously coached at Bates College, Duke University and spent four seasons as an assistant at North Carolina Central University.
During his time at NCCU (2013-15), Hanson also served as the team’s recruiting coordinator. He oversaw the hitting program, which broke school records for hits, doubles, and walks. He recruited and mentored three All-Americans, five All-Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) selections, and a MEAC Rookie of the year. In Hanson's first season at NCCU, the program experienced the 30th best turnaround in the nation, improving from seven wins to 19 victories. He helped the Eagles to 27 wins in 2013, one of only two teams in the country that had improved by 20 or more wins over two seasons.
Hanson got his start in coaching serving as the recruiting coordinator at Division III Bates College (2010), where he coached alongside current EKU Head Coach Edwin Thompson. Hanson helped Thompson lead the program to a school-record 25 wins and the 19th-best batting average in NCAA Division III baseball. In his one season, Hanson mentored an all-conference catcher and helped the program lead the league in home runs, stolen bases and fielding percentage.
With Hanson serving as an academic liaison at Bates, the team produced a 3.1 grade-point-average.
After leaving Bates College, Hanson joined the Duke University program as an assistant coach for the 2012 season. With the Blue Devils, he served as the camp coordinator and ran the catching program, mentoring a catcher that was ranked atop the Atlantic Coast Conference for batting average.
“Tyler’s passion for the game, and his offensive approach fits with the style we want to play here at EKU,” said Thompson. “It is also great to add another coach to our staff that has coached in a Power 5 conference. Tyler has already proven he can recruit the type of student-athlete that will represent EKU and the Richmond community in a positive manner.”
Hanson also enjoyed a stint with the Sanford Mainers of the New England Collegiate Baseball League in the summer of 2010. He served as team’s hitting coach and helped the squad finish with a 23-19 record. Hanson had the opportunity to work with more than 10 players who signed professional contracts the following year.
The Sanford, Maine native was a four year starter behind the plate and was a two-time North Atlantic All-Conference selection at the University of Maine at Farmington. Hanson ranks among the top-10 in school history for home runs. He captained the team as a junior and a senior, leading the squad to two conference playoff berths. Hanson also received the team’s Golden Glove Award in 2007 when he posted a .993 fielding percentage.
Hanson earned a degree in business economics from Maine-Farmington in 2009.
