Jamal Johnson and David Hanson will become the first former Cal Poly men’s basketball players in the program’s 25-year Division I era to return as assistant coaches following the Friday announcement from 10th-year head coach Joe Callero that the pair have joined the Mustang staff for the 2018-19 season.
“Adding Cal Poly alums Jamal Johnson and David Hanson to our staff is one of my coaching dreams. My job is to create leaders and these former players had great success on and off the court and now they can pay it forward,” Callero said. “Jamal has been an elite trainer the last few years and understands our program as well as anyone. David has spent time working with elite college, high school and AAU programs and will help open doors in the recruiting world that fit Cal Poly’s academic profile.”
The starting point guard for Cal Poly’s 2013-14 team that captured the program’s first Big West Conference Tournament title and reached the NCAA Tournament second round, Johnson (2010-14) returns to San Luis Obispo after serving as the varsity assistant coach at Northwood HS (Irvine, Calif.) last season. In helping coach Northwood HS to the 2018 Pacific Coast League title, Johnson also coordinated practices, strength and conditioning sessions and camps.
Previously, Johnson has also coached and coordinated skill sessions for SoCal Elite Sports youth teams; served as a coach and physical education instructor at the Jewish Community Center of Orange County; spent three years developing players with the San Antonio-based Key Basketball Training organization and, in 2014, was an assistant coach at Allan Hancock College (Santa Maria, Calif.).
A three-year starter for the Mustangs, Johnson remains first in Cal Poly program history with 128 appearances and ranks sixth with 300 career assists. The San Antonio native graduated from Cal Poly in 2014 with a degree in sociology.
“Jamal was a natural point guard and coach on the floor,” Callero said. “He has the work ethic as an assistant to compliment our current staff and, as a recent player and graduate, can immediately add insight. Jamal understands the hard work and dedication required to hoist a Big West Conference championship trophy.”
Hanson (2008-12), a 2012 All-Big West Conference second team selection and 2012 Big West All-Tournament team honoree, returns to Mott Athletics Center after serving as the varsity assistant coach and director of player development at Our Savior New American HS (Centereach, N.Y.) since 2015. For the past two years, Hanson has also led the New York Rens AAU club program U-15 squad.
A graduate assistant at Pitt (2013-15) under then-head coach Jamie Dixon, Hanson led daily skill development work with Panthers players, assisted in offensive and defensive breakdown drills, conducted film studies and compiled scouting reports. He received his master’s degree in Higher Education Management and his bachelor’s from Cal Poly in business administration.
One of only five players in program history to score at least 1,200 career points and grab more than 600 rebounds, Hanson ranks fifth all-time in appearances (122), seventh in rebounds (628), eighth in points (1,267) ninth in three-pointers (154) and 10th in steals (95).
“David was one of the smartest and craftiest post players that I’ve had the pleasure of coaching,” Callero said. “He’s developed the coaching techniques required to make an impact with our post players this season. David’s recruiting contacts in the midwest and on the east coast, his passion, sincerity and his loyalty to the Central Coast make him the perfect hire.”
https://www.gopoly.com/sports/mbkb/2018-19/releases/20180629ocj0ay
