Hall of Fame hockey coach Bill Hanson’s dismissal by Catholic Memorial, first reported by The Boston Herald Friday, has caught fellow coaches and colleagues off guard.
According to the report, Hanson met with school president Dr. Peter Folan Thursday and was informed he was not being brought back as a guidance counselor or for his 39th season as head coach.
Hanson became head coach in 1976, amassing a 608-196-74 record to rank third all-time in career wins in Massachusetts behind the late Ed Burns (Arlington) and Marty Pierce (Matignon). Under Hanson, CM won 20 Catholic Conference titles and 17 State championships, including 13 in the 25-year history of the elite Division 1A Tournament.
CM had slipped since winning its last championship in 2009 and did not qualify for the post-season in three of past five years. Last season’s 6-10-4 record was the program’s worst in more than 30 years.
“When you think of Catholic Memorial, you think of Bill Hanson,” said Kris Hanson, coach of the 2015 1A champion St. John’s Prep. “As a player in the ‘90s I played against him four years at St. John’s. And, in the past eight years against him as a coach, we developed a friendship. I used to pick his brain about everything.
“It’s kind of surprising and disappointing. I enjoyed competing against him and talking to him before every game we played,” he added. “The numbers don’t lie – 17 championships in 38 years is just about one every two years and really beyond impressive.”
B.C. High coach John Flaherty spoke of the respect CM’s players had for Hanson.
“He has won the admiration and respect of so many players. Having heard how highly they speak of him and hold him in such high esteem, that is how his career will be measured. It was an honor to coach against Coach Hanson and I am a better coach from having done so. The Catholic Conference and Massachusetts High School hockey will miss him. I wish him the very best in whatever his future brings,” Flaherty said via text.
The family of CM statistician Adam Busalacchi has been involved with the school since its earliest days.
“This is a very sad day for CM and for high school hockey but one thing that cannot be changed or forgotten is Coach Hanson’s legacy. Ask any of his players and they will tell of how much they became better players thanks to the coach. Just as important was how much of a mentor he was off the ice, his sacrifices and determination to see each one of his players succeed not just on the ice but in life itself. Coach Hanson was Catholic Memorial. I can say without a doubt Coach Hanson was an integral part of making CM home,” said Busalacchi.
That respect extended well beyond Massachusetts. That was apparent when Bruce Shatel, coach of New Jersey power Delbarton, extended a personal invitation for CM to play in the National Hockey League’s NHL’s Yankee Stadium Series in January of 2014.
“I have a tremendous amount of respect for Bill Hanson and his program. They play the game right way and he is a class act,” Shatel told HNIB News at that time.
Hanson’s awards include: national John Mariucci Award (2009), Massachusetts State Hockey Coaches Hall of Fame induction (2010), CM Hall of Fame (2001), USA Today National Coach of the Year (1994, 1998). Among the many high profile players he coached at CM are current Harvard coach Ted Donato and 1996 NHL Vezina trophy winner Jim Carey.
Speculation is that former NHL player Ian Moran, brought on this past year as CM’s assistant AD and freshman hockey coach, may be in line to take over for Hanson.
Will be great to have Ian Moran in there. Always nice to have a guy coaching who will be pressuring the kids to spend thousands of dollars on his camps and lessons. Families can barely handle tuition and for fear of not playing thousands per kid to him. Already has started
Way to go pres you wimp
You don’t think Ian Moran will be starting his own camps?? Your crazy if you don’t think so.
All the parents and players I have spoken with are appalled at the way this was handled by Dr. Folan!! Mr. Folan has not been at the school a full year and is trying to turn CM into a school of all his Belmont Hill cronies. If Jeff W thinks Ian Moran will not be “hosting” camps that cost $$ then he knows nothing about coaching hockey almost like Ian Moran.
Are you slow? Read his comment again, clearly he’s being sarcastic.
This job should go to a CM graduate. St
Johns Prep coach is an alum of the school, BC High Coach is an alum of the school. A former CM player would have a tough job but they would know how important the position is and respect what Hanson built. Mike Bavis is someone that comes to mind. Pete Travato has been an assistant coach there for years. Matt Smith was part of the program a while ago and is still in youth coaching I believe. Doug Nolan could be a candidate. I am sure there are a 100
others… But the bottom line is that a CM alum is out there and should be considered just as much as a guy like Moran..
This job should go to a CM graduate. St
Johns Prep coach is an alum of the school, BC High Coach is an alum of the school. A former CM player would have a tough job but they would know how important the position is and respect what Hanson built. Mike Bavis is someone that comes to mind. Pete Travato has been an assistant coach there for years. Matt Smith was part of the program a while ago and is still in youth coaching I believe. Doug Nolan could be a good candidate. I am sure there are a 100 others..But the bottom line is that a CM alum is out there and should be considered just as much as a guy like Moran..
I am only surprised that it took a Catholic school this long to hold Mr. Hanson accountable. Anyone with direct knowledge of his foul and obscene antics over the years is applauding this change.
Hanson should of left when he was on top of his game. As a parent of a CM Hockey player other parents and myself believed he would gracefully exit after being inducted into the MA State Hockey Coaches Hall of Fame .
The past few years he began losing his way, and the players felt it. It became more bullying than coaching and the kids lost their drive and respect for him.
Believe me, these players can handle a bad mouth, insults, and the typical coach tirade, but it was much more than that.
That being said… when you have an industry giant being confronted by a rookie school president (Dr. Folan) who’s insensitive handling of the entire situation was disastrous the whole thing is going to end up as a crap storm.
The kids have no love for Folan either.
He was a average coach who got lucky with a few GREAT players who carried the program and then everyone wanted to come , when he lost he blamed his players as being unworthy , bad dude just a GUY nothing special
Hanson was always a jerk no matter on or off the ice.