Desert Christian assistant baseball coach Ryan Hanson, an instrumental part in the team’s run to a state title last spring, died unexpectedly Wednesday. He was 34.
The cause of death is unknown, and an autopsy will be performed within the next few days.
Ryan Hanson and his father, Mike, came to Desert Christian from Canyon del Oro before last season and helped the Eagles go 26-4 and win the Division IV state championship, their first in school history. They were also assistant coaches on CDO’s state championship team in 2009.
“It’s very tough,” coach Grant Hopkins said. “Without Mike and Ryan there’s no way we would have won last year. They brought a different level to our program.”
Ryan Hanson was a member of Sabino’s 1997 state championship team alongside current Sabercats coach Kelly Johnson who said Hanson had an incredible passion for coaching and helping kids get better.
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“I think he had a very positive impact because he taught the game the right way, to be played hard,” Johnson said. “He drove the force that you’re going to play as a team and win as a team.”
Johnson described Ryan Hanson and his father as “best friends,” and said he was still in disbelief of the sudden death. The father-son combo was present for Desert Christian’s 8-2 win against Pusch Ridge Christian on Saturday, but Ryan Hanson suddenly fell ill after that. Neither was at practice Monday, and they both missed the team’s game Tuesday at Tanque Verde, something that was surprising to Hopkins.
“He was like Iron Man,” Hopkins said about Ryan Hanson. “He never missed anything.”
Mike Hanson found Ryan unresponsive Wednesday at their home before the Eagles played at Tombstone, Hopkins said. Hanson called Hopkins to tell him the news, and he didn’t tell the team until after the game.
Desert Christian is off to a 16-2 start and is ranked No. 1 in Division IV. Its next game is Saturday at 10 a.m. when it hosts Phoenix Country Day.
“They guys are distraught, and they’re trying to process it,” Hopkins said. “Most of these kids have never lost anybody before; this might be the first tragedy they’ve experienced.”
