ADVICE: Tony talks tactics with his players.
BASKETBALL‘S popularity in the UK and the US are substantially different.
While it is one of the most beloved and publicized sports in the United States of America, in England its coverage pales in comparison to the likes of Football, Cricket and Rugby.
But hasn’t stopped Coach Tony Hanson from working his hardest to get kids from all across Tees Valley into the sport.
Born in Connecticut, Tony Hanson, 58, had a passion for basketball ever since the age of 10 and quickly began a career in the sport.
He started college basketball with the Connecticut Huskies and after 4 years found himself drafted in the 1977 NBA Draft by the New Orleans Jazz.
He ended up pursuing a career in Europe which led him to England, where he has been ever since.
Tony said: “I have been fortunate to have many years of playing and coaching experience in the USA, Europe and the UK.”
“I like being able to share this experience with the players while they are chasing their dreams in this sport.”
“Basketball is a huge sport in America and many young people will play the game just to have fun and keep fit.”
Tony first got involved with basketball in the North East when he joined the Tees Valley Mohawks as a player.
This would lead him to coaching the team and other teams in Teesside including the Teesside University Men’s Basketball team.
However, Tony realizes that basketball is nowhere near as popular in the UK as in the US.
Tony said: “Basketball in the US is comparable to football here in the UK.”
“It is a national passion and past time not only where I grew up in Waterbury Connecticut but throughout the entire country.”
“It’s also one of the biggest grassroots participation based sport in the world.”
However, Tony is still adamant that the sport is growing a great deal in the UK.
Tony said: “Here in the UK, basketball is a niche sport but with a huge school and community following.”
“This is despite the big corporate sponsorship and media world leaning towards the other more traditional sports.”
“Basketball is growing steadily here in the UK, but without the major media outlets and big corporate sponsorship it’s up to the local and national leagues like England Basketball to keep this steady growth going.”
In the UK, Tony has a great deal of success when he created the Hoop Dreams project designed to get young people into basketball
Tony’s services in basketball with his Hoop Dreams project led him to being awarded a MBE in 2007, an honour he is extremely proud of.
Tony said: “Being nominated for an MBE is a very humbling experience because it came as huge surprise.”
“I do what I do because I enjoy working with young people who love sports and it’s a way for me a give something back by doing this through community sports and education projects like Hoop Dreams which is the name of the Mohawks community development work.”
“I didn’t realise how this was being noticed by others until the work was recognised by my teaching and coaching peers until it was nominated for the Queens MBE award. ”
The Hoop Dreams project continues to be the flagship education and sports project for basketball in the Tees Valley and Northeast region.
Its part of the unique partnership between the Tees Valley Mohawks Basketball Club, Teesside University and Middlesbrough College.
It also works closely with local schools, colleges, Local Authorities Sports Development teams, the BME Network and partners, the Teesside Basketball League, the Durham Basketball League, just to name a few partners.
For more information contact: 07947532504 or t.hanson25@yahoo.co.uk
Courtside Teesside 