Eric Hansen Speaks to Sioux City Newspaper; Describes Mental Fatigue

Former Arizona head swimming & diving coach Eric Hansen has spoken to his hometown Sioux City Journal (Iowa) newspaper and given an interview about his resigning from the University of Arizona.

While Hansen did not delve into the details surrounding his final days at Arizona, he did mention the mental fatigue that sets in for a swim coach.

“You’re coaching the national team, which is a treat, but when you get back you realize that was your vacation,’’ he told the Sioux City Journal. “You’re coaching three weeks in Spain and you get like three hours to go check out Barcelona. That’s not really a vacation.’’

Hansen was a member of the coaching staff that traveled to the World Championships last summer, and was the head coach of the 2012 World Short Course Championships men’s team that went to Istanbul in December of 2012.

“I realized that this chapter in my life had kind of played out,’’ he said. “I feel like I got a lot done and now just want a little more balance. I want to have a weekend. I don’t remember the last weekend I’ve had. I’m still young enough to be able to own some of my life.’’

According to the story, Hansen has indicated that at least for now, his coaching career is finished, and that he’ll move to Colorado where his family is and probably join his brother Nick who owns a real estate company around Fort Collins.

This is Hansen’s first public comments since taking a leave of absence from the team in October, and subsequently resigning. There have been several details of an incident involving a 9-1-1 call at Hansen’s home that we’ve been unable to verify, even with a police report.

See the full article here for more details on Hansen’s conversation.

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Lorraine
10 years ago

Matthews – so you don’t care to address the seriousness of Eric Hansen’s intentionally negligent actions? You don’care what he did in regard to victimization. Well don’t fault anyone and everyone else – for having serious issues with Eric Hansen’s reckless and cruel actions of choice. He had, after all, been indifferently imploding for more than one swim season.

It is what it is – and Eric Hansen needs to be far more truthful and honest about the hurtful and harmful impact his actions had – on others. The entire NCAA program he ran down at Arizona – for starters. His hometown newspaper when they ask him what happened and why – especially. And the individuals who vested their… Read more »

Lorraine
10 years ago

So Eric Hansen doesn’t address or isn’t asked if he owes each swimmer from Arizona a deep sincere apology for abusing them during practices – and violating NCAA coaching rules against each of them?

Doing so was not a part of any mental fatigue on his part. After all the years he put in coaching NCAA swimming he knew better. He chose to abuse his athletes. And then he left without issuing a public apology to each of them?

Some things still need to be addressed by you, Mr. Hansen. Like a sincere professional public apology addressed to each of your Arizona swimmers.

Reply to  Lorraine
10 years ago

Wow some of you sound like the typical whiny swim moms who hear the crying from your home sick pups and want to blame a coach for pushing them to the limit. The AZ swimmers are world class athletes and probably needed to get pushed hard-real hard- to stay world class. If you think he is the only top ten program doing two a days and making life tough for the kids-you are sadly mistaken. If these AZ whiners wanted pancake breakfasts on deck and sleeping till noon they should have signed with a D-3 school.

Eric has more than proved he is a great coach for many years and does not owe them an apology. I know that… Read more »

DutchWomen
10 years ago

Hansen was making 120k base at Arizona, plus any bonuses, plus camps, plus any extra pay for those national team trips he spoke of…I know a boatload of young coaches who would LOVE a bit of mental fatigue in return for 120-150+…a boatload of young coaches who are working just as hard for salaries that don’t even smell six figures.

Josh
10 years ago

While I don’t doubt Hansen has these sentiments, this is really just a way to deflect attention from the real answers to the questions of why this happened out of the blue two months from the end of the season.

PAC12BACKER
10 years ago

Memo to coaches out there: You don’t need all those morning practices to produce great swimmers. That’s a myth. 2 per week or none at all. There’s your time saver right there!

Name one other sport with 2 a day practices nearly every day. Women’s gymnastics and figure skating are about the closest, but they are working on technique half the time and not mind numbing sets.

mini bus
10 years ago

Thank you justanopinion

I have 20 years + coaching / Teaching from infants to Internationals.
I love coaching, but not that much
To be a good coach you need to be divorced & have your credit card maxed out
No matter how much you give, its never enough
Good swim = good swimmer, bad swim = bad coach (parents)
Your weekend starts at 6.00 pm sunday & ends 2 hours later
would be nice to have a off season
would be nice to be paid over time, travel allowance, parking, phone, programs, memberships,etc.
would be nice to stay in coaching.

Rich Saunders
10 years ago

If you actually believe this story I have some ocean front property in Tucson for you at a good price

PAC12BACKER
Reply to  Rich Saunders
10 years ago

Exactly! Everyone else, he didn’t resign on his own, he was forced out! The rationalization about burn-out are after the fact.

2weeksVacation
10 years ago

JUSTANOPINION, you are right on. I can tell you that I coach at a school in a BCS conference, “where the financial stability of the whole athletic department rests on the shoulders of football/basketball” – and the coaches in those sports think we swim coaches are nuts for the schedule we keep. Yes, football/basketball coaches have stress, but they also are much more compensated for that stress, and rightfully so. But they don’t have a 24/7, 365 day schedule like us. You don’t see them out during the collegiate ‘off season’ running doubles 5 days a week and a Saturday am practice. Or in the spring when anything past the NCAA 8 hours is “optional”, you don’t see them out… Read more »

justanopinion
Reply to  2weeksVacation
10 years ago

Absolutely AMEN!!!
Thank you for posting this (whoever you are!).

mikeh
Reply to  2weeksVacation
10 years ago

Thanks to the coaches for the very interesting (and rather alarming) insight. How do coaches like Dave Marsh, Bob Bowman, and Eddie Reese do it? They’ve been coachingo for decades? Does their success give them the ability to ignore some of the “off-deck” work that consumes the lives of other coaches?

Aussieswimcoach
Reply to  mikeh
10 years ago

Having first hand been an assistant coach to coaches in Australia of the same ilk as these guys they do have the ability to avoid the change in demographic as they have established a this is what happens mentality or they palm it off to their assistants. (That is why you have assistants). On the flip side however I went straight from swimmer to assistant to head coach without a break and the change in environment I have seen in the 19 years of competitive swimming is startling. I know first hand 6 head coaches divorced in the last 12 months. I don’t know 6 people divorced in the rest of my life combined. It can’t be a coincidence.

Reply to  2weeksVacation
10 years ago

I have a feeling I recognize the writing style of 2WEEKSVACATION, but, no matter t,he comments and feelings posted are absolutely ‘spot on’.

About Braden Keith

Braden Keith

Braden Keith is the Editor-in-Chief and a co-founder/co-owner of SwimSwam.com. He first got his feet wet by building The Swimmers' Circle beginning in January 2010, and now comes to SwimSwam to use that experience and help build a new leader in the sport of swimming. Aside from his life on the InterWet, …

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