Linfield University Athletics

Meritorious Service

Dave Hansen has a winning-seasons streak nearly as long as the Wildcats football team.

No person has seen more Linfield football games than Hansen. Since he came to Linfield as an economics professor in 1969, he has attended all but five games at home and away.

Hansen has been the radio color analyst or play-by-play broadcaster for Linfield football for 32 years. He has broadcast all four national championships and more than 325 games, including 33 in post-season.

Hansen also broadcasts basketball and has pinch-hit as public address announcer in football and both mens and women's basketball.

He offers unique insights because since 1988 he also has been Dean of Students at Linfield and continues to teach economics.

"If I bring anything of value to the broadcasts . . . it's knowing the kids outside of the football realm . . . I have the opportunity of interacting with them through the week," he said.

"Every once in awhile you come across a cute story or something a little bit more interesting about a player than just what they do on the football field."

Those insights, and the historical perspective he brings to his commentary, have made Hansen unique among college sports broadcasters.

But there is more. A group of six persons who nominated Hansen for the Hall of Fame noted that he is very active in the recruitment and retention of students, subscribing to the theory of "recruiting the entire family."

The committee wrote:

"Dave Hansen has clearly demonstrated over the years an uncanny technique of reaching the parents of many of our prospective student-athletes. . . Dave invests a considerable amount of time in not only knowing the skills of players, but he also works hard to know the personal interests of them as well."

Hansen and his wife of 40 years, Sharron, reside in McMinnville. They have two daughters: Debbie Harmon (class of '90) is Linfield's director of capital giving and Amy Emery is director of the Kaplan Center for educational test preparation in Portland.