Fresno State Athletics
Remembering Jack Hannah, 1933-2022
8/1/2022 1:30:00 PM | Baseball, Football, General
FRESNO, Calif. - Former Fresno State dual-sport athlete and Bulldog legend Jack Hannah (1933-2022) passed away peacefully on Sunday morning in Fresno.
Hannah was a standout baseball and football player at Fresno State, and a member of the Fresno State Baseball Hall of Fame. Over the years, Hannah made an impact on the Central Valley and beyond.
Hannah played football and baseball at Fresno State, then went on to pitch six seasons with the Milwaukee Braves farm system and then, in 1963, he became a teacher and Hoover High School's first baseball coach. He had incredible success as a baseball coach at Hoover, being named Baseball Coach of the Year for the Western Region United States in 1980. He coached at the local high school for 16 years, having a 314-130 record with five League Championships and two Valley Championships.
He was inducted into the Fresno County Athletic Hall of Fame in 1998 individually, and then later also as a part of the 1968 Hoover High team enshrinement in 2016.
Hannah continued his service in the Central Valley as a counselor at Clovis West High School (Clovis Unified School District) from 1979-92. He retired from teaching and counseling in 1992 after 30 years in public education.
In 1987, together with his big brother Joe and Joe's son Lonnie, Hannah launched a new career as the Sons of the San Joaquin, a hugely successful Western trio which performed all over the world and made over a dozen albums. They were inducted into the Western Music Association Hall of Fame in 2006 and several albums have been given awards by the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum (Cowboy Hall of Fame). Hannah has also repeatedly won Songwriter of the Year awards from the Western Music Association and was the recipient of the Wrangler Award from the National Cowboy Hall of Fame.
Throughout his life, Hannah remained committed to his alma mater and sang the national anthem countless times at baseball games, including Pete Beiden Day this past season in honor of his Bulldog coach.
Information on a memorial service will be announced at a later date.
"Fresno State Athletics - For The V: The Central Valley" - Bulldog student-athletes, coaches, and staff proudly wear the "Green V" to show their pride in representing the Central Valley. Stories of why the Bulldogs play for the "Green V" will be shared throughout the next year with #ForTheV. To become a Bulldog Foundation member or join "The Green V Society," please visit bulldogfoundation.org.
Hannah was a standout baseball and football player at Fresno State, and a member of the Fresno State Baseball Hall of Fame. Over the years, Hannah made an impact on the Central Valley and beyond.
Hannah played football and baseball at Fresno State, then went on to pitch six seasons with the Milwaukee Braves farm system and then, in 1963, he became a teacher and Hoover High School's first baseball coach. He had incredible success as a baseball coach at Hoover, being named Baseball Coach of the Year for the Western Region United States in 1980. He coached at the local high school for 16 years, having a 314-130 record with five League Championships and two Valley Championships.
He was inducted into the Fresno County Athletic Hall of Fame in 1998 individually, and then later also as a part of the 1968 Hoover High team enshrinement in 2016.
Hannah continued his service in the Central Valley as a counselor at Clovis West High School (Clovis Unified School District) from 1979-92. He retired from teaching and counseling in 1992 after 30 years in public education.
In 1987, together with his big brother Joe and Joe's son Lonnie, Hannah launched a new career as the Sons of the San Joaquin, a hugely successful Western trio which performed all over the world and made over a dozen albums. They were inducted into the Western Music Association Hall of Fame in 2006 and several albums have been given awards by the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum (Cowboy Hall of Fame). Hannah has also repeatedly won Songwriter of the Year awards from the Western Music Association and was the recipient of the Wrangler Award from the National Cowboy Hall of Fame.
Throughout his life, Hannah remained committed to his alma mater and sang the national anthem countless times at baseball games, including Pete Beiden Day this past season in honor of his Bulldog coach.
Information on a memorial service will be announced at a later date.
"Fresno State Athletics - For The V: The Central Valley" - Bulldog student-athletes, coaches, and staff proudly wear the "Green V" to show their pride in representing the Central Valley. Stories of why the Bulldogs play for the "Green V" will be shared throughout the next year with #ForTheV. To become a Bulldog Foundation member or join "The Green V Society," please visit bulldogfoundation.org.
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