Legends of Prep XI
Rich Hansen, P’03,’09 “I have known Rich for well in excess of 35 years, and he was then, as he remains now, the most grounded of men...”
“I have known Rich for well in excess of 35 years,” wrote one nominator, “and he was then, as he remains now, the most grounded of men...” That’s high praise indeed, because in the context of Rich Hansen’s outstanding record as Prep’s athletic director and head football coach, it would be easy – and quite understandable – to develop an inflated ego. But that’s not something Rich would want to see in his athletes, and it’s certainly not something he would do himself.
In his 32 years at Prep – 27 as head coach and AD – the record speaks for itself. His football teams have racked up 21 Hudson County championships, four NJSIAA titles (the most recent coming last year) and 18 top-20 statewide rankings. Three #1 tri‑state rankings, and three top-15 national rankings underscore the power of Prep Football under the guidance of his steady hand – a penchant for consistency backed up by a 103-game (as of this writing) win streak against Hudson County opponents, dating back to 2000. As for personal accolades, they begin with 18 (and 10 consecutive) “Hudson County Coach of the Year” awards, and include state and city proclamations and citations, awards for community service, two New York Giants Coach of the Week awards, invitations to coach in all-star games at the state, regional, and national levels. His standing among his peers is reflected in his tenure as president of the HCIAL, position on the NJSIAA Football Committee, frequent speaking engagements at football clinics and coaching workshops, and writings in coaching periodicals like Football Quarterly, Athletic Management, and National Coaches magazine. It’s an impressive picture of a truly transformative head coach, who surpassed Bill Cochrane as Prep football’s winningest in 2014, and who has worked tirelessly to restore the program to an elite level and keep it there throughout his tenure. But that’s only the beginning of the story. In his parallel role as athletic director, Rich has overseen unparalleled growth and success across the board. Overall, Marauder teams have compiled an astounding 300+ championships, and there are now 41 total teams competing in 19 different sports, with a staff of 73 coaches. His efforts have earned him Hudson County Athletic Director of the Year on 3 occasions. And yet, for all his success, Rich remains an approachable, caring, and humble presence in the community. He has mentored hundreds of Prep men who have passed through his teams, and can be counted on to bring warmth and good humor to any gathering of his Prep colleagues. As a highly visible public “face” of Saint Peter’s Prep, he has always represented the school with dignity and honor – and he expects nothing less of each athlete who dons a maroon uniform. Rich and Elisse, his wife of more than 30 years, are the proud parents of two daughters, Nicole and Kelsey, and two sons, Rich, ’03 (chair of Prep’s Physical Education department and Prep Football defensive coordinator) and Dan, ’09 (a former Prep Football captain). They have four grandsons: Braydon, Bryce, Daniel, and Braxton.