2020 -- S 2315

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LC004168

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2020

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S E N A T E   R E S O L U T I O N

HONORING AND CONGRATULATING BISHOP HENDRICKEN COACH DAVE HANSON

ON BEING NAMED THE NATIONAL FEDERATION OF STATE HIGH SCHOOL

ASSOCIATIONS 2018-2019 NATIONAL BOYS SWIMMING & DIVING COACH OF THE

YEAR

     Introduced By: Senators McCaffrey, Ruggerio, Algiere, Lombardi, and Metts

     Date Introduced: February 05, 2020

     Referred To: Recommended for Immediate Consideration

     WHEREAS, The National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) is an

organization that writes the rules of competition for most high school sports in the United States.

More than 19,500 public and private high schools are members of the NFHS; and

     WHEREAS, Dave Hanson’s interest in swimming began when he swam for the Cranston

West Junior High Team. He continued his swim career at Cranston West High School, where he

was also a star defensive end for the football team. After graduating from Cranston West High

School in 1970, Mr. Hanson attended the University of Rhode Island where he received a B.S.

degree in Physical Education in 1974; and

     WHEREAS, Mr. Hanson began his legendary coaching career in aquatics as a Volunteer

Assistant Coach with the Cranston West Swim Team where he helped to build a dynasty that

included winning Rhode Island State Championships in 1971, 1972, 1974, 1975 and 1976, 47

straight dual meets, and the New England Championship in 1972. Dave was also the Head Swim

Coach at Park View Jr. High in Cranston in 1974, where he won the Junior High School

Championship. He also coached the Bain Junior High Swim Team in 1976 and 1977; and

     WHEREAS, In 1977, Dave Hanson became the Head Swimming Coach at Bishop

Hendricken High School and has compiled one of the greatest records in high school athletics

history. Under his leadership and thanks to his coaching acumen, Bishop Hendricken has won 32

Rhode Island Interscholastic League State Championships, including 24 in a row from 1990 to

2013. He has also won a multitude of New England Championships and Titles, and has led his

teams to more than 300 dual meet victories. Coach Hanson is also a teacher and molder of young

men, helping to prepare them for success in future endeavors. His teams have also received the

John Stoyko Memorial Award for Team Sportsmanship in 1980, 1986, and 1998 from the Swim

Officials Association; and

     WHEREAS, Mr. Hanson has received numerous honors and awards throughout his

distinguished coaching career. He was elected to the Rhode Island Aquatic Hall of Fame in 1992,

and received the Larry Gallogly Award—Rhode Island High School Boys’ Sports Coach of the

Year, the Joseph L. Tracey Memorial Award from the Rhode Island Swim Coaches Association

for his many significant contributions to the field of swimming and aquatics, the 2006 National

Interscholastic Swim Coaches Association (NISCA) David H. Robertson Excellence in Coaching

Award, and the 2010 NISCA Outstanding Service Award. He also served as Past President of the

Rhode Island High School Coaches Association, and the Past President of the Rhode Island

Aquatic Hall of Fame; now, therefore be it

     RESOLVED, That this Senate of the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations

hereby honors and congratulates Bishop Hendricken Coach Dave Hanson on being named the

National Federation of State High School Associations 2018-2019 National Boys Swimming &

Diving Coach of the Year; and be it further

     RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to

transmit a duly certified copy of this resolution to Mr. Dave Hanson, Swimming & Diving Coach,

Bishop Hendricken High School.

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