Coaches' Corner: Fred Hanover

This summer we'll be featuring various coaches from our 23 teams in a Q&A format on UCSDTritons.com as well as our social media accounts.

We're starting off with head men's golf coach Fred Hanover. Fred has been at UC San Diego since 2019 and recently completed his fourth season leading the Tritons on the course. 

He has over 20 years of collegiate coaching experience, has taught the game for over 30 years, and is an accomplished professional player.

In 2021, the Tritons earned their inaugural NCAA Division I victory when they topped the field at their own St. Mark Invitational. 

Fred was named the California Collegiate Athletic Association Coach of the Year in 2020 and in 2019 he led the Tritons to their first NCAA Division II Championship appearance since 2004.

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What's an interesting fact about you that's not listed in your bio?
I have been to all 50 states.

What's one skill/talent you wish you had or would like to learn?
Singing

What has stood out to you most/what have you learned in this transition to Division I competition?
Just how good the competition is at the NCAA Division I level.

What's your favorite coaching memory?
My best coaching memory so far is going to the 2019 NCAA West Regionals in Utah. It was during my first few months on the job at UC San Diego. We barely qualified for regionals and were the 20th-seeded team of 20. We ended up finishing second to qualify for the NCAA Championship in West Virginia. The sheer joy and surprise on the faces of the players and their family members is embedded in my mind. They should not have been surprised. They were very good.

Who has influenced you most in your career and why?
Amy Wheeler, the sports psychologist that works with our team. She has taught me to be more patient and has helped me gain a greater understanding of the mental side of sports.

What's one piece of advice you've received that stuck with you?
When a scholar-athlete is telling you something, whether it is verbal or non-verbal, good or bad, I need to listen.

What advice would you give to potential scholar-athletes who are going through the recruiting process this summer?
I would advise any potential scholar-athlete to think and research very carefully before deciding if they want to be a Division One athlete. The skill, dedication, and commitment necessary is something that many recruits don't understand.

What stands out to you most when evaluating prospective scholar-athletes at camps or summer tournaments?
Attitude, how they handle adversity, and how they act towards their parents.

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About UC San Diego Athletics
After two decades as one of the most successful programs in NCAA Division II, the UC San Diego intercollegiate athletics program has begun a new era as a member of the Big West Conference in NCAA Division I. The 23-sport Tritons earned 30 team and nearly 150 individual national championships during its time in Divisions II and III and helped guide 1,400 scholar-athletes to All-America honors. A total of 83 Tritons have earned Academic All-America honors, while 38 have garnered prestigious NCAA Post Graduate Scholarships. UC San Diego scholar-athletes exemplify the academic ideals of one of the world's preeminent institutions, graduating at an average rate of 90 percent, the highest rate among public institutions in Division I or II. For more information on the Tritons, visit UCSDtritons.com or follow UC San Diego Athletics on social media @UCSDtritons.