A ceremony has been organized for former players and alumni to celebrate Bruce Hanson’s 40 years as Yorktown High School’s head football coach.
Hanson retired from that position at the end of the 2024 season after leading the Patriots to 272 victories since taking over in 1985. He had 302 career victories total, with the others coming in the 1970s when he was the head coach at Wakefield High School.
Overall, Hanson, 74, has coached high-school football for 52 years.
Hanson won his 300th game during Yorktown’s 2024 season with a 34-7 home victory over Centreville.
The alumni retirement ceremony is scheduled for Saturday, Feb. 8 from 3 to 6 p.m. at the Knights of Columbus Hall in Arlington. It is not a dinner, but desserts will be provided and there will be a cash bar. At the event, former players and assistant coaches for Hanson are invited to drop by and visit with their former head coach.
At Yorktown, Hanson’s teams won 12 district championships and two regional crowns, and finished second in the region four times. The Patriots advanced to the Virginia High School League’s Group AAA tournament twice under Hanson.
His team finished 6-5 this past season and earned a region-playoff berth.
Yorktown director of student activities Mike Krulfeld organized the upcoming ceremony. He expects a number of Hanson’s former players to attend the Feb. 8 event.
Dave McBride was a former player under Hanson at Yorktown. He is expected to attend the event with his band to provide music.
Hanson graduated from Springbrook High School in Montgomery County, Md., in 1968, then played football at the College of William and Mary, graduating in 1972.
Les Zimmerman has been a longtime friend of Hanson’s, dating back to their time at William and Mary.
“Bruce coached so long and did so much for high school football at Yorktown and the players, he deserves to be recognized,” Zimmerman told ARLnow.
