Erin (Thacker) Hanson (2005, 2007)
Sport: Softball (2001-05)
Degree: Bachelor's - Fitness (Undergrad); Master's - Sports Administration
UWL Athletic Accomplishments: Four-year letter winner, three-time team captain and scholar athlete.
Current Profession: UW-La Crosse Deputy Director of Athletics
Why did you come to UW-La Crosse?
I was looking at Stevens Point and La Crosse and since I had been on campus so much visiting my sister throughout her time here I felt so comfortable when I came for an official campus visit that it felt like home. Additionally, La Crosse had a fitness major that I was interested in majoring in.
Who influenced you the most during your time at UWL?
My teammates and friends. I ended up having friends who were on other athletic teams here and they were really talented athletes and great students. I was just trying to keep up with them! My teammates were very talented and were driven to be better softball players each day. Weather it be working in the weight room, working out during early morning captains practices in the off season or going down to the field weeks before tryouts even started each year I never wanted to not be there with them each day finding a way to be better.
What is your most fond memory while being at UWL as a student?
Certainly the friendships that I made, no questions asked. My friends that I met in college are some of my closest friends still to this day and we try each year to get together for an annual reunion weekend.
How did your undergraduate experience at UWL impact what you are doing in your career now?
My undergraduate experience as a student-athlete and my graduate experience of working in the athletics department gave me the opportunity to see what a collegiate athletics experience can give to students on a campus. My work as a graduate student gave me the opportunity to realize that I could give back someday in providing that experience to others.
What are you most proud of about your undergrad years now that you have graduated?
Making a change during my junior year to what I wanted to do. I realized that what I had planned on doing after graduation was in fact not what I was cut out to do thanks to a field experience. I changed course and even when it didn’t work to double major, I found a way to make the best of the change and enrolled in graduate school so that I could get the education needed to continue working towards a career in athletics.
What is one important thing you learned while you were at UWL?
Being a champion takes hard work and tireless commitment and even when you think you are doing what it takes there are likely others who are still working harder than you are. I was just an average student-athlete and although I thought I was working hard at times I learned that there were others who were more talented and working harder than I was. I learned through overcoming an injury to never give up, to work tirelessly and that if you put your mind to something you can likely find a way to make it work.
What advice would you give current UWL student-athletes?
Don’t take any single day or any opportunity for granted. Work harder and smarter than your opponents. Stay focused on your goals. And don’t be afraid to ask for help, sometimes that help is what will take you to the next level.
How does your time here as a coach/staff member differ from your time as a student/student-athlete?
While I was a student-athlete I took for granted my experience and had no idea how fortunate I was to be a part of not only my team but a department with such a storied tradition and success. As a staff member I am always amazed at what those who have been here before me and those who will continue to come here for years to come, both student-athletes, coaches and staff members, will accomplish.
