James Hanger is entering his 6th season (2025-26) as the SBU Head Volleyball Coach. He currently has 52 wins across his first five years, the most by a volleyball coach since 1993. His three straight 14 win seasons is the most wins in consecutive years by the volleyball program since 1987 &1988.
The program stayed on the same course of trajectory since Hanger took over recording another 14 win season. This included a monster victory over nationally recognized Rockhurst Hawks in a 5-set thriller. This was their first win against the Hawks since 1987. As well, Hanger coached Ella Rademaker to a 2nd team All-GLVC award, the first time any Bearcat has earned this since joining the GLVC.
In the Fall of 2023, coach Hanger led the team to their second straight 14 win season. This included starting out the year 3-0 for the second time in three years. Him and his team defeated rival Drury University for the second straight year, the first time since 1996. Coach Hanger had two players named to College Sports Communicators Academic All-District team in Loran Pritchett and Bailey Lasater.
In 2022, Coach Hanger improved the team for a third straight season leading them to a .500 record (14-14) for the first time since 2014. Playing six less conference games than the year prior, he led them to a 4-8 conference record which had them tied for 8th place, with the top eight qualifying for the conference tournament. Unfortunately, they were unable to qualify due to head-to-head matchups, putting them just shy of their first ever GLVC tournament appearance.
He doubled the teams conference wins in his second season as Head Coach, which took place just months a part. This season he kicked off the season going 4-0 for the first time since 2014. He also led the team to a 3-game conference win streak, tied for the longest in over 17 years.
His first season was a shortened, conference-only opponents, season that took place in the spring due to COVID. The team picked up 3 conference wins, something the program hasn't seen since 2015.
Coach Hanger comes to SBU with 20 years of experience. He spent three years as an assistant coach at NCAA division I Samford University. While at Samford coach James was part of the first conference championship won by the volleyball team and the program's single season record at 29-4. At NCAA division II Christian Brothers University he served as assistant coach for two years. At CBU coach Hanger was part of another record breaking season with a record of 25-10 in a single season. In combination of these five years of college coaching experience he has been tasked with all areas of collegiate coaching and assisted these two programs to a combined record of 106-59. In addition to college experience he also was honored as "Coach of the Year" in the Birmingham, AL area while the head coach at Shades Mountain Christian School in Hoover, AL. At SMC he lead the team to the state championships, placed three players on the all state team, and finished the season with a 21-9 record. Coach Hanger has also coached for USA Volleyball High Performance. USAV HP is a pipeline that conducts tryouts throughout the US, and identifies the best players in the nation who may someday earn the opportunity to play for the USA Olympic indoor women's team. Three years he served as an assistant coach for a team that competed in the High Performance Championships international tournament hosted by the US. One year he served as the head coach of a team representing the Delta region of USAV that competed in the HP Championships.Coach Hanger earned his bachelors from Drury University in Secondary Education and English. As well he earned his Masters in athletic administration from Concordia University to go along with his personal trainer certification and multiple coaching certifications.
Coach Hanger resides in Springfield with his wife Carol Sue and daughter Merri Mae. Hanger and his his family are members of Ridgecrest Baptist Church in Springfield.
