After five years and ten national championships, Madison College Esports Head Coach Joe Hanson is stepping down. Hanson, who was hired in September 2020 to help start the athletic department's newest program, immediately turned the WolfPack into a perennial power in national, regional, and statewide collegiate gaming. A longtime member of the Madison College Information Technology (IT) Department, Hanson will continue on with his day-to-day duties as an enterprise systems engineer. 

"This experience has been unforgettable and will remain special to me long after I've stepped away," stated Hanson. "When we launched Esports as a varsity program in Fall 2020, it started as a vision and a belief that Esports could thrive at our college, and become a platform for student success both in-and-out of the games. That vision has become a reality beyond anything I could have imagined. Beyond the trophies, it's the growth of our players, the bonds we've built, and the culture we've established that matter most to me. Watching our students grow as student-athletes, teammates, and leaders has been the most rewarding part of this journey. They've shown what's possible with hard work, resilience, and passion, and they've set a standard that will inspire future players for years to come. Thank you to every player, coach, staff member, and supporter who helped build this program from the ground up."

After the initial struggles of putting together Madison College's first Esports roster during a worldwide pandemic, Hanson was immediately rewarded with a pair of national titles by Kaden Crockett, as he won back-to-back Super Smash Bros. Ultimate championships in Fall 2020 and Spring 2021. Hanson went on to lead the WolfPack to four crowns in Valorant, including a three-peat in Fall 2023, Spring 2024, and Fall 2024, as well as four more Rocket League banners, highlighted by two in the same Fall 2024 semester. The Rocket League squad also brought home state championships at the Wisconsin Esports Summit (WCRL) twice.

"I am so glad I was able to talk Joe into coaching our Esports team back in 2020. I knew he would do a terrific job, and he certainly did," commented Director of Athletics Jason Verhelst. "Not only did he do a phenomenal job getting our Esports space up and running, and having extremely successful teams, but Joe was also a mentor to so many student-athletes as they navigated college. We will miss him but know that our next coach will have Joe around and the foundation set for continued success." 

In addition to the titles, Hanson guided numerous other teams into the postseason, with six national runner-up finishes and even more appearances in national semifinals and quarterfinals. To date, Hanson has also coached 19 Esports student-athletes awarded NJCAA Academic Award winners, with likely more on the way following the 2024-25 academic year. At the 2025 WOLFIES, Hanson was named the Madison College Athletics Coach of the Year. During his tenure, Hanson also helped Madison College host several Rocket League Summer Series tournaments, as well as several Wisconsin high school state championships.

Additional Stories
A RING FOR EVERY FINGER: WolfPack wins Rocket League title for 10th NJCAAE crown
THREE-PEAT: WolfPack secures third straight, fourth overall Valorant championship
BANNER BONANZA: WolfPack Esports wins three NJCAAE championships in one semester
WolfPack Esports wins second Valorant national title
GRAND CHAMPS...AGAIN: Rocket League wins Esports fourth championship
Rocket League run to national semifinals highlights Fall 2022 for WolfPack Esports
Esports caps another incredible season with national runner-up finish
GRAND CHAMPS: WolfPack claim NJCAAE Valorant team title
BACK-TO-BACK: Crockett defends crown as NJCAAE Super Smash Bros. Grand Champion
Kaden Crockett completes run to NJCAAE Championship
Madison College selects Joe Hanson as first Esports coach

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