SE: Zach Hanson Finds ‘New Home’ After First Visit to Manhattan, Coaching Career After Playing for K-State Football
Oct 22, 2018 | Football, Sports Extra
By Corbin McGuire
Ten years ago, Zach Hanson took a visit to K-State that changed the course of his life. The fine details of his first trip to Manhattan aren't as clear now — he does recall eating at So Long's Saloon — but its effect was immediate and lasting.
In short, Hanson excelled as a player for the Wildcats from 2009-11, discovered his calling to coach and met his wife, Annie, all because of that official recruiting visit he made a decade ago.
"It was something that impacted me to a level where I cancelled my other visits and decided to commit on site," said Hanson, in his first season as a tight ends coach at K-State. "That's something I'll never regret a day in my life because it truly was the best place for me."
A California native, Hanson said he remembers being taken back by the people of Manhattan that day. The welcoming nature he's now accustomed to in the Midwest stopped him in his tracks, literally and figuratively, at the time.
"Obviously the community had a huge impact on my decision because people just came up to me and started talking to me, and I wasn't used to that. It was just a breath of fresh air to have that happen," he said. "I grew up in California, so it was very different there and I was kind of worried about the culture shock, but when I got here I just fell in love with it right away.
"I decided to choose Kansas State because this place felt like home to me, immediately, and the people of Manhattan just embraced me right away from my visit."
Hanson did the same, and he never let go.
The 6-foot-8 Wildcat played 37 games for K-State as an offensive tackle. He earned First Team All-Big 12 honors in 2011, a 10-win season that ended in the Cotton Bowl. He became engrossed in the program's culture and history, which can be represented by a lot of things but one in particular stands out to Hanson: A sign in the team meeting room.
"It says, 'Everyone in this room and everyone who's ever worn the Powercat helmet is counting on you.' That sign is really important to me, personally," Hanson said. "I think that's important for all of our guys to see every single day because it allows them to understand this is bigger than just them and just us on this team."
Also during his playing days, Hanson said he discovered the program is also bigger than football. Part of his motivation to get into coaching stemmed as much from the ability to shape young men as it did from the game itself, to pass along the same impact K-State had on him.
"I owe a lot to Kansas State to building work ethic and instilling the core values into me in order to shape me into being a better husband, a better man every single day and a better coach now," he said. "To have a positive impact on young people's lives is amazing, and this is just such a great area to do that and such a great platform for me to be able to do that."
Hanson stayed with the program after graduating with a degree in social sciences. He started as an offensive quality control coach and served as an offensive graduate assistant from 2013-15. He spent the last two years at North Carolina as a special teams graduate assistant. It's a time period he's thankful for because it helped him grow as a coach, but it also made him yearn for a return to Manhattan.
"I have to thank (North Carolina head coach) Larry Fedora and his staff for everything that they did for me and just allowing me to grow as a coach. In my time there I was able to see a different way of running a program and a different way of coaching, very different styles, but I really gained a great appreciation for where I got to play here at Kansas State," Hanson said. "A big factor in that was just this community and this group of people. The fans that we have here and our gameday atmosphere is just unparalleled across the country, in my opinion. I truly believe that we have the greatest fans in America and that this community is just something very special."
So special that 10 years ago, before landing in Manhattan, Hanson expected to leave for his next recruiting visit in Florida. He never made it there. Now, he can't imagine being anywhere else.
"Once I left, I always knew I that I wanted to come back," he said. "Obviously, this is a special place to me. This is a special place to a lot of people. I truly to love it here. I love this university and everything it stands for. I love the people of Manhattan. This is definitely my new home."
Ten years ago, Zach Hanson took a visit to K-State that changed the course of his life. The fine details of his first trip to Manhattan aren't as clear now — he does recall eating at So Long's Saloon — but its effect was immediate and lasting.
In short, Hanson excelled as a player for the Wildcats from 2009-11, discovered his calling to coach and met his wife, Annie, all because of that official recruiting visit he made a decade ago.
"It was something that impacted me to a level where I cancelled my other visits and decided to commit on site," said Hanson, in his first season as a tight ends coach at K-State. "That's something I'll never regret a day in my life because it truly was the best place for me."
A California native, Hanson said he remembers being taken back by the people of Manhattan that day. The welcoming nature he's now accustomed to in the Midwest stopped him in his tracks, literally and figuratively, at the time.
"Obviously the community had a huge impact on my decision because people just came up to me and started talking to me, and I wasn't used to that. It was just a breath of fresh air to have that happen," he said. "I grew up in California, so it was very different there and I was kind of worried about the culture shock, but when I got here I just fell in love with it right away.
"I decided to choose Kansas State because this place felt like home to me, immediately, and the people of Manhattan just embraced me right away from my visit."
Hanson did the same, and he never let go.
The 6-foot-8 Wildcat played 37 games for K-State as an offensive tackle. He earned First Team All-Big 12 honors in 2011, a 10-win season that ended in the Cotton Bowl. He became engrossed in the program's culture and history, which can be represented by a lot of things but one in particular stands out to Hanson: A sign in the team meeting room.
Everyone in this room, and everyone who has worn the Powercat helmet is counting on you.
— K-State Football (@KStateFB) October 22, 2018
?? Zach Hanson | #KStateFB pic.twitter.com/h2JpH4C21B
"It says, 'Everyone in this room and everyone who's ever worn the Powercat helmet is counting on you.' That sign is really important to me, personally," Hanson said. "I think that's important for all of our guys to see every single day because it allows them to understand this is bigger than just them and just us on this team."
Also during his playing days, Hanson said he discovered the program is also bigger than football. Part of his motivation to get into coaching stemmed as much from the ability to shape young men as it did from the game itself, to pass along the same impact K-State had on him.
"I owe a lot to Kansas State to building work ethic and instilling the core values into me in order to shape me into being a better husband, a better man every single day and a better coach now," he said. "To have a positive impact on young people's lives is amazing, and this is just such a great area to do that and such a great platform for me to be able to do that."
Hanson stayed with the program after graduating with a degree in social sciences. He started as an offensive quality control coach and served as an offensive graduate assistant from 2013-15. He spent the last two years at North Carolina as a special teams graduate assistant. It's a time period he's thankful for because it helped him grow as a coach, but it also made him yearn for a return to Manhattan.
"I have to thank (North Carolina head coach) Larry Fedora and his staff for everything that they did for me and just allowing me to grow as a coach. In my time there I was able to see a different way of running a program and a different way of coaching, very different styles, but I really gained a great appreciation for where I got to play here at Kansas State," Hanson said. "A big factor in that was just this community and this group of people. The fans that we have here and our gameday atmosphere is just unparalleled across the country, in my opinion. I truly believe that we have the greatest fans in America and that this community is just something very special."
So special that 10 years ago, before landing in Manhattan, Hanson expected to leave for his next recruiting visit in Florida. He never made it there. Now, he can't imagine being anywhere else.
"Once I left, I always knew I that I wanted to come back," he said. "Obviously, this is a special place to me. This is a special place to a lot of people. I truly to love it here. I love this university and everything it stands for. I love the people of Manhattan. This is definitely my new home."
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