Granby Basketball Coach Stepping Down

Editor’s note: We published this story earlier in the week, but here it is again in case you missed it.

The head coach who led Granby Memorial High School to an improbable Class S state championship victory in 2013 has resigned from the basketball program.

Wally Hansen, who has lead the Bears’ basketball team for the past nine years, is stepping away from coaching following this fall’s cross country season. Hansen coaches the Granby girl runners.

Already the father of two children aged 5 and 3, Hansen and his wife are expecting twins around Christmastime.

“Having twins due in late December will give us four little ones, which makes trying to coach very difficult,” Hansen said.

Undoubtedly, the highlight of Hansen’s coaching career was the Class S title game against Weaver at the Mohegan Sun Arena in March 2013.

The Bears found themselves trailing by 21 points early in the second half, but rallied to score a shocking 83-81 victory for Granby’s first basketball state championship.

Hansen said he will greatly miss coaching at Granby.

“It’s been a great ride,” he said. “I got into coaching because I love the game of basketball, and I just love the Granby kids. They have been wonderful and a pleasure to coach.”

Photo credit: Ellen Naughton