Former Alma College Sports Information Director Mike Hanson died in Missoula, Mt. on Wednesday (June 17), a mere few weeks after taking over as the Assistant Athletic Director of Communications at the University of Montana. He was 49 years old. In April, he was hired at Montana to replace Dave Guffey, who is retiring this month after 37 years with the Grizzlies.
Hanson served at Alma in Michigan for seven years before heading west to Montana.
"The Griz family is deeply saddened by the news," said Montana Director of Athletics Kent Haslam in a statement on Montana athletics website
www.gogriz.com.
"Mike was a dedicated husband and father, so first and foremost our thoughts, prayers and deepest sympathies go out to his wife, Jana, and his two children, Zach and Sydney."
"Mike had only been working at Montana for a short perio
d of time, but he had already made a strong impression on everyone
he came in contact with. Everyone was looking forward to working with him and using his experiences for the betterment of Grizzly Athletics," added Haslam.
Prior to his arrival at Alma College in 2008, Hanson spent two decades in the professional sports ranks for the NBA, NFL and NHL. He was the NBA’s Portland Trail Blazers as Executive Director of Communications and worked for the NHL's Florida Panthers and the NFL's Miami Dolphins, New England Patriots, Houston Oilers and Minnesota Vikings.
He is survived by his wife, Jana, and two children, Zach and Sydney.
June 23 update: Currently, there are two memorial services scheduled to celebrate Mike's memory: in Alma, Michigan on June 30 and in Minneapolis on July 8. Details of the events are pending. Hanson's family requests those attending the services wear your favorite sports attire or a Hawaiian shirt and bring stories to share about Mike.
Please join the family for a gathering to celebrate Mike’s memory in Alma, Michigan on June 30, 2015 or in Minneapolis, Minnesota on July 8, 2015. Details of the events are pending. Mike’s family requests that you wear a Hawaiian shirt or your favorite sports attire and bring stories to share about Mike. - See more at: http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/themorningsun/obituary.aspx?n=michael-hanson&pid=175142902#sthash.TOKvs16D.dpuf
Montana Sports Information Director Dies, by Bill Speltz via missoulian.com
According to Grizzly athletics director Kent Haslam, Hanson died of "natural causes" Wednesday night in Missoula at the age of 49. From Haslam to those Hanson worked with previously at Alma College in central Michigan to officials of the Big Sky Conference, the collective message was one of sadness and surprise.
Hanson is survived by his wife, Jana, and two children, Zach and Sydney.
"They were just here last week, the whole family was, and they were looking for houses and getting their daughter registered for high school and all those kinds of things," Haslam said. "They went back to Michigan while Mike was going to stay here for the next six or seven weeks working. It's unfortunate his family was back in Michigan."
Hanson was to work with Montana's marquee athletic program, Griz football. He was set to travel with head coach Bob Stitt and a player representative to the annual Big Sky Conference summer media event in mid-July.
"We looked forward to meeting Mike at the kickoff in Park City. Our thoughts, prayers are with his family," the Big Sky tweeted Thursday night.
Mike Silverthorn, Alma College director of communications, related what Hanson meant to the Scots.
“It’s a deep loss for all of us," he told The Morning Sun newspaper. "I’m just kind of shocked about it.
"For seven years he worked so hard promoting Alma College athletics. He’s done so much for us. It was a devastating piece of news when we were notified. We wish his family the best and we’ll do all that we can for them.”
Prior to his employment at Alma College, Hanson worked for the Portland Trailblazers, Florida Panthers, Miami Dolphins and New England Patriots. He was hired at Montana to replace Dave Guffey, who is retiring this month after 37 years with the Grizzlies.
"Mike had only been working at Montana for a short period of time, but he had already made a strong impression on everyone he came in contact with," Haslam asserted. "Everyone was looking forward to working with him and using his experiences for the betterment of Grizzly Athletics."