Paul Hansen became the head football coach at MNU in 2020. Coach Hansen has helped restored Pioneer football to a championship-level program. Last year MNU found its way back to the top of the conference. Winning its first conference championship since 2014, the 2023 football season found success. In 2023, Coach Hansen received the Heart of America South Coach of the Year. Finishing the 2023 season in the top 25 (#22) and having several players receiving post season awards, the 2024 Pioneers have much to look forward too. Under Hansen, his Pioneers have produced 4 All-Americans, 1 Heart South Player of the Year, 2 Offensive Player of the Year, 3 Freshmen of the Year, and 44 All-Conference Players. In 2024, history was made at MNU when DB-Anthony Sao was signed by the Atlanta Falcons. During Hansen’s time at MNU, the offensive has been at the top of the conference in total offense. In 2021, Hansen’s offense broke the national passing record for game when Adrian Parsons threw for 659 yards. With several starters returning in 2024, there is much optimism for the defending conference champions.
Hansen was named MNU head coach after 2 years at NCAA D2 Western New Mexico, where he was the offensive coordinator. At WNMU, Hansen led the offense to a top rank in the conference in passing and top 3 in total offense, after the squad was at the bottom of the conference prior to his arrival. Four NFL players were coached by Hansen: Dorial Green Beckham (Tennessee Titans, Philadelphia Eagles), Drew Forbes (Cleveland Browns), CJ Collins (Green Bay Packers, XFL) and Anthony Sao (Atlanta Falcons).
Prior to Western New Mexico, Hansen was the head football coach at Parkview High School in Springfield, Missouri. The Evangel University graduate was the previous offensive coordinator at Southwestern Assemblies of God University. Coach Hansen spent two years at SAGU in 2015 and 2016 and was part of the 2015 season in which the Lions went 8-3, the best record in school history.
Prior to SAGU, Hansen spent one season at North County High School in Bonne Terre, Missouri where he was the assistant head football coach/offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach. From 2012-13 he was the offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach for the Marshfield Blue Jays where in 2013, Hansen's offense at Marshfield led the state in every classification in total offense, averaging 500 yards per game. Coach Hansen's first coaching stop was at Hillcrest High School in Springfield. He coached the Hornet's wide receivers from 2008-11 and had three different receivers named to the All-State Team including Dorial Green-Beckham.
During his playing career at Evangel, Coach Hansen led EU to two Heart of American Athletic Conference Championships and playoff appearances in 2001 and 2005. In 2005 he was both a Don Hansen Gazette Wide Receiver Honorable Mention All-American as well as a Heart All-Conference Wide Receiver Honorable Mention.
Hansen earned his BS in physical education from Evangel and a Master of Education from Southwest Baptist University. He lives in Olathe with his wife, Joanna, and kids: Bria, Londyn, and Skylar.
