| ||||||||
Ben Hannan continues to assemble the type of talent the 49ers require in order to be a consistent contender in Conference USA and on the national scene. With sights firmly set on the program’s first national ranking and NCAA bid, Hannan has put together a team that boasts quality players from top to bottom.
Hannan has signed two Top 25 juniors (John Samaha and Russell Killough) as well as a Top 10 Canada junior (Scott McNeil). Along the way, Hannan has produced an all-Conference USA golfer in senior Mike Shamp and two U.S. Amateur qualifiers (Jeff Curl and Mike Hyland in 2000). In just three seasons, Hannan has put together a healthy resume of success, with some notable steps taken towards the program’s goals.
In addition to the top signees, Hannan has helped senior Mike Shamp develop into a bonafide top player. Shamp has garnered all-Conference USA honors as well as all-Conference USA Tournament honors, showing both a consistency throughout the year as well as the ability to compete head-to-head with the top players in the league.
In 2000, led by U.S. Amateur Qualifiers Jeff Curl and Mike Hyland, Hannan picked up his first career tournament victory at the 2000 G. Gunby Jordan Invitational. In fact, in his first full year (Spring, 2000 and Fall, 2000), Hannan led the 49ers to top five finishes in seven of 13 tournaments.
Hannan continues to bring in the best players to build for the 49ers future. He has accomplished that goal in the likes of sophomore John Samaha and junior Scott McNeil, who both served notice as top juniors in national competition as well as this year’s signing of Killough, considered by many as the top prospect in North Carolina.
While Hannan has lofty goals for where he wants the program to go and has been busy completing the first task (recruiting), he knows that developing talent is still the most fundamental way to get better.
With that in mind, Hannan leans on his teaching background. A teaching professional and golf instructor for several years before realizing his goal of becoming a collegiate head coach, he believes he’s well-suited to use his talents as a teacher to reach the program’s goals as a coach.
"This has definitely been one of my long terms goals -- to get back into coaching," said Hannan, who spent one year as an assistant coach at South Alabama. “The ability to coach and to teach are the two things I love. My primary background is on the technical side. One of my strengths would be my ability to conduct productive team practices. My objective (at practice) is maintaining a player’s strengths while improving his weaknesses.”
Through an array of drills that he has honed in his time as a teaching professional, Hannan gives his golfers a technical, critical, experienced eye that can spot problem areas and develop plans to correct them. At the same time, as a former collegiate golfer himself and growing up in the golfing world with a father, Keith, who is a PGA Master Professional, Hannan is well-versed in all facets of golf and well-connected in the golfing community.
A 1993 graduate of South Alabama with a degree in English, Hannan spent four years at the Phil Ritson/Mel Sole Golf School (1996-99) and served as a teaching professional at the Dana Rader Golf School in Charlotte, N.C., 1999-2000. Hannan had progressed to the role of Senior Advisor in his four-year stint at the Ritson Golf School (Myrtle Beach, S.C.) before joining the Rader Golf School. In addition, he has served as a teaching professional at Club de Golf Malinalco in Malinalco, Mexico.
Originally a member of the golf team at New Mexico State, Hannan transferred to South Alabama, where he lettered for four seasons. He remained with the team for one year as an Assistant Coach and Academic Advisor. Of note, Hannan boatst four holes-in-one.
"The Charlotte athletic programs and this university have unlimited potential. I’m very excited to be a part of it," said Hannan. "The athletic programs have shown great progress and been successful. I get the feeling that there is something special here and that's exciting."
A native of Mason City, Iowa, Hannan and his wife, Jill, and children, Sam and Meg, reside in Charlotte.
