Jeff Hanson - Football Coach - James Madison University Athletics

Jeff Hanson

Title:
Defensive Line
Email:
hansonja@jmu.edu
Phone:
540-568-6517
Physical Address:
Plecker APC 206 (220 Champions Dr.) / MSC 2201

Jeff Hanson made his return to James Madison University for a second time, as he was hired in February 2016 as an assistant coach working with the defensive line.

The 2017 season was a highly decorated campaign for Hanson's defensive line, which produced a national player of the year candidate in Andrew Ankrah. Ankrah was named FCS ADA Defensive Player of the Year while finishing third in the voting for the Buck Buchanan Award. A consensus All-American, Ankrah was CAA Defensive Player of the Year and one of three defensive linemen to earn All-CAA status. Joining Ankrah on the All-CAA First Team was Simeyon Robinson, and Darrious Carter was a Third Team selection.

JMU's defense ranked fifth nationally with 3.4 sacks per game, as Hanson's unit accounted for 33.5 of of the team's 51.0 sacks. Ankrah and Robinson both led the team with 8.5 apiece while Carter has 6.5 sacks.

The Dukes led the country in scoring defense (11.1) while ranking third in total defense (252.0). JMU's front four helped the team finish the year as the seventh-best rushing defense (90.5) across the FCS.

In his first season back with the Dukes, he was part of a huge defensive turnaround, as they ranked 17th in scoring defense (21.2) and 30th in total defense (344.3). JMU was eighth best in turnover margin (+1.13) and 26th in third-down defense (34.1), resulting in the team conceding nearly 60 yards less per game.

He coached Andrew Ankrah to First Team All-CAA honors. Hanson’s defensive line accounted for 60 percent of JMU’s sacks in 2016, with 14.5 of 24 coming from the front four. Martez Stone, whose strong postseason led to him joining Ankrah as an All-State selection, led the line’s efforts with 9.0 tackles for loss and 5.0 sacks, while Simeyon Robinson had 7.5 tackles for loss and 4.0 sacks.

The defensive line also produced one of the season’s biggest interceptions in the fourth quarter at Villanova when Cornell Urquhart tipped a pass at the line of scrimmage, leading to Stone’s first career interception.

Hanson, a coaching veteran of over four decades, previously worked with the defensive line for one season (2013) before coaching one year at Ferrum College (2014) and one season on Byron Thweatt’s staff at Virginia State (2015).

During his first go-round with the Dukes, Hanson coached a pair of JMU lineman to All-Colonial Athletic Association accolades in 2013 as Jordan Stanton was a First Team All-CAA member while Tyler Snow was tabbed to the Second Team.

Prior to JMU, he spent three seasons as the defensive line coach and recruiting coordinator at Virginia (2010-12). In his final year with the Cavaliers, he was elevated to assistant head coach and head of recruiting. His 2011 and 2012 recruiting classes ranked in the top-30 nationally in FBS.

Hanson was part of Virginia’s defensive improvement, as the ‘Hoos ranked third in the ACC in total defense and fifth against the run, giving up just 139.5 rushing yards per game.

He followed then-Head Coach Mike London to Virginia from Richmond, where he coached for 29 years across three periods (1971-79, 1989-06, 2008-09). Hanson was part of the Spiders’ 2008 national championship team and 2009 CAA co-championship squad. During the national title season, Hanson guided Lawrence Sidbury and Sherman Logan to All-CAA honors as the tandem combined for 17.5 of the program’s 36 sacks.

Aside from Richmond, Hanson also had coaching stops at VMI (2007), West Texas State (1987-88), Southwest Texas State (1983-86), Lamar (1982-83) and Marshall (1980-81).

A native of Beloit, Wisconsin, Hanson graduated from Richmond with a bachelor’s degree in physical education and a master’s degree in education. As a player, he was a linebacker for the Spiders and part of the 1968 Tangerine Bowl championship team.

After his playing days, Hanson remained with the Spiders as a graduate assistant, coaching the freshmen defensive lineman from 1971-73 while completing his degree programs. He then earned his first full-time role with UR, working with the tight ends and receivers in his first season, and with the defense over the next four seasons.

Hanson and his wife, DeDe, have three daughters, Laurie, Kristin and Katie.