BRUNSWICK

He is one of the elder statesmen in the Kennebec Valley Athletic Conference, this being his 18th season as the captain of the Brunswick High School boys basketball ship.

Only Oxford Hills’ Scotty Graffam, with 32 seasons, has more experience.

The Dragons are scheduled to open the 2013-14 season tonight at Cony and Todd Hanson will be at the helm once again, bringing consistency, professionalism and continuity to the table.

“I still get the butterflies. You do feel very anxious and you do think about the game during the day. It’s funny because once the tip goes up and you settle in, then you’re back to coaching. But, it seems like only last week I just got started. It still feels new, still feels fun and challenging.”

Yeah, it’s seems like only yesterday, the Waterville and University of Maine graduate came to Brunswick, applying for a math position and head coaching job.

The hoop expectations around Brunswick in 1997 were somewhat low back then as the Black and Orange were coming off a 2-16 season under Bob Donar.

“My first year, the captains were Andrew Krea and Josh Charboneau. My memories of that first 4-14 team are all positive. We knew going in we’d be in transition, coming off a two-win season the year before. Our very first game, at home against Medomak Valley produced a win.

“We were very competitive throughout the year, and were in most games. Those kids battled in practice and on the court, and really embraced the concepts and philosophies that were being taught throughout the season.

“At the end of the season, we managed to double the win total from the prior year, and felt that we had a solid nucleus returning the next season in Byron Watson, Nate Pelletier, James Cassidy, Kyle Bernier and Gabe Ribas. The following season, Nate (6-foot-5 rugged post player) tore his meniscus in a preseason game at Caribou.

“He was sidelined for the first half of the season. Without him, we struggled to a 1-6 start. When he returned, even though he had a bulky knee brace, we finished 6-5. I truly feel that if he had been healthy all season, we would have cracked the top-eight.”

His teams have gone on to win 224 games (not including conference championships) including a perfect 23-0 state-champion season in 2002 with Ralph Mims and Danny Hammond leading the way.

During one three-year stretch (2002-04), the Dragons went 63-3.

And it all began in Guilford, Maine, home of Piscataquis Community High School where he attended for three years, playing varsity.

He graduated in 1985 at Waterville, playing one season for the legendary Kenny Lindloff, after his father Skip became principal at Waterville that school year. That winter, the Panthers copped a State Class A Championship with a 60-35 win over South Portland.

After a postgrad year at Maine Central Institute, Todd attended the University of Maine and walked on, playing for Skip Chappelle and Rudy Keeling.

After graduation it was back to Waterville where he taught for six years and kept his hands in the basketball pot, helping Lindloff for four years, and then was an assistant at Thomas College to Chris Young.

“At that point the school year ended in 1996 and that summer I applied for the Brunswick job. I was recently married, but we had no kids.”

Time for a change

He felt it was time to strike out on his own and Todd wanted to run his own program.

“I truly did think I was ready. What I really learned from coach Lindloff was in terms on how to run a program. When I first got out of college I really thought I was ready to become a varsity head coach because I played at the Division One level.

“At college I had two very good coaches of whom I learned from. But, what I learned when I went back to Waterville was how to run a program. There’s more to being a coach than simply going to practice and coaching in games.”

Having competed in a championship caliber program at Waterville and then going to a two-win school was certainly an eye-opener.

“What I found when I came to Brunswick was that basketball wasn’t the most important thing. At that point I would say that it was a soccer school.

“So, the kids who played basketball liked basketball, but it wasn’t their focus … it was something to do to pass their time.”

The game has changed much on and off the court over the last two decades.

“I think probably the biggest difference, and I’ll even go back to when I played in the early ’80s, is that it seems like kids are bigger, stronger, faster at an early age.

“I think that weight training has played a major part. I don’t know what they put in the water or the hormones in milk, but they seem bigger and stronger, And couple that with a lot of kids specialize. You very rarely see a three-sport athlete anymore.”

And, off the court?

“I think it’s very important that whoever coaches, teaches in the building. I put out a lot of fires. And someone who’s not in the building doesn’t have that opportunity.

“I don’t think kids are doing anything differently today than they did in 1985. It’s just that with social media, everybody knows about it within two seconds after it happens. Everybody knows everybody’s business.

“News travels faster and sometimes it’s bad news that travels faster.

“But, I’m lucky because Fred (Koerber, former Brunswick girls varsity coach) has been with me either as a mentor, or as an assistant coach, or a part of the program for all 18 years. He’s been right by my side the whole time.”

One of Koerber’s former players is now Duke coach Joanne Palombo McCallie, a former Parade All-American.

“He got an interesting piece from her which he shared with me and what she’s noticed — and I don’t know if I wasn’t smart enough to think of it myself — was in terms of social media now. Or, with this you can even go back 10 years.

“The game is over or the practice is over. A coach can go in and address the kids, have some good teaching points or constructive criticisms. And, the kids then have the bus ride home to think about it.

“So, if we play at Oxford Hills they have a good hour to let soak in what the coach said. Think about it, process it. And, hopefully learn from it. Now, the coach says something in the locker room and before the coach is out of the locker room they (players) are on their phones and they’re getting text messages, tweets and Facebook posts about how good they are. How good they did in the game and that the coaches don’t know what they’re doing. You lose that ability to think, learn and process. It’s all instantaneous.”

Time is valuable

And, today, time is of the essence. Just trying to keep up with other coaches and programs is daunting.

“I think that today there’s just a lot more information readily available. I’m on a couple of mailing lists for different schools and they’ll send out various basketball packages. You could really immerse yourself for 24 hours online into different plays, different defenses, different ways to run practices. You have to do a really good job of not getting overwhelmed with it.”

Then, there’s the on-court strategies and philosophies that evolve with each passing winter.

“I think you have to adjust to the kids you have. This year our Honor Roll came out and we had 11 of 13 kids that made the Honor Roll. With those kind of teams you can put a little bit more in. We try to keep it simple … we try to pick four things in each category to do well: four set plays, four defenses, four out-of-bounds plays, and try to execute and do very well with those four things.

“I’ve had teams that had a hard time running four things. We try to be repetitive and drill the things that we can do well.”

“I also try to adjust each year … we try to change things to fit our personnel rather than make them fit to what I’m trying to do. I try to fit what’s best to their skillset.

“And, I think we try to put a stamp on our program in that when people play against Brunswick there’s going to be fundamentals and that’s how we play … always. Play hard, try to get a great effort defensively.”

Zone or man-to-man? The great divide between coaches is how to properly play defense with some turning their noses up at zones.

“I would consider myself more of a man-to-man coach, but I feel zones are very important based on matchups. Based on intangibles that happen during a game. If you get kids in foul trouble, especially your big guys, sometimes you can protect them with a zone. We try to mix and match, and I honestly wish I could play a little bit more zone, but I always get freaked out when I give up a ‘3.’”

And then there are his boys, Thomas, a sophomore on the varsity, and Kyle, an eighth-grader. Both hoopsters.

“My dad was a coach before he got into administration. He won a state championship at Foxcroft Academy.

“My first memories of basketball are with his teams when he had (former UMaine standout) Kevin Nelson. Going to my dad’s practices and his games, he (Nelson) was like my first role model, basketball-wise. I was in second grade when they (Foxcroft) won the championship in 1975, 56-53 over Medomak Valley.”

So, there is Todd Hanson coach and Todd Hanson father. There have been numerous talks with wife, Sue.

“My oldest son has grown up with it and every year of his life I have been the head coach. I think it’s something that he’s looked forward to doing and being a part of this program.

“This is his first year at varsity, although he swung last year. My wife laid the parameters out that during practice I’m the coach, but when we take the ride home I’m back to being his dad. We both feel that’s very important.”

Sons and fathers

There have also been numerous talks with other coaches, who’ve coached their sons and Todd is right there to pick their brains.

“The same advice: just enjoy and don’t treat them any different than you would the others … you’re probably harder on your own son. They’ve also told me their assistants have told them to go the other way, don’t be so hard on them.

“It’s been neat … we talk a lot about changes in technology and social media. Also, about a lack of time that parents are able to spend with their kids. I really cherish having an hour-and-a-half on the court with him because that’s an hour-anda half more that most parents get. He rides to school with me every day — he doesn’t have his license yet, so that may change — and that’s more time that we have together.”

And don’t forget the spouse behind the scenes.

“It’s been a big sacrifice and any coach’s wife will tell you that it’s not easy. We’re on year 18 of me being gone a lot in the winter time. I think it’s easier now because she’s not home with both of the kids. But, it’s hard.”

Eighteen years have come and gone with a blink of an eye. Elder statesman, 46 years young … who would’ve thunk it?

“I see myself getting older. When I started 18 years ago I was the youngest guy and now coach Graffam is the longest and then there’s me. Makes me feel old.

“It goes by so fast and everyone I talk to, their advice is to enjoy the time that you have because it goes quick.”

“Some days are easier than others, but I try to enjoy every single day.”

GEORGE ALMASI is the Times Record sports editor. He can be reached at galmasi@timesrecord.com