Trace Hansen enters his third season on the WT Baseball Coaching Staff following a two-year standout playing career for the Buffs.
2018 saw the Buffs cap-off arguably the best season in program history with hosting duties for the NCAA South Central Regional Tournament at Wilder Park in Canyon. The Buffs reached the 40-win plateau for the first time in program history, finishing the season with a mark of 40-14 as they claimed their second Lone Star Conference Title with a league record of 20-4. WT was named the Lone Star Conference Coaching Staff of the Year while senior first baseman Luis Amaro became the third Buff in history to pick-up LSC Player of the Year accolades. At the plate, the Buffs finished the season hitting .318 as a team with 127 doubles, 23 triples and 47 homeruns to drive in 388 RBI for a slugging percentage of .498.
A Lone Star First Team All-Conference selection in 2016, Hansen led the Buffs in hitting at .367 in 45 starts at second base. He recorded 61 hits which led the team, finished tied for first with 16 doubles ranking tied for fourth in the LSC, second in triples on the team with three and tied for third in home runs with three. He drove in 27 and scored a team-high 41 runs.Â
Hansen slugged .554 and reached base at a .443 clip. He finished a league-best 20 of 23 in stolen bases and has been part of 24 double plays to lead the team. He earned CoSIDA Academic All-Region honors, named to the LSC All-Academic Team and was named LSC Player of the Week. Hansen was tops in the league as the toughest to strikeout at 16.6 at bats per strikeout which ranked 33rd nationally. He was named Second Team All-Region honoree by three different media outlets in 2016.Â
In 2015, Hansen started all 55 games in the infield for the Buffs. He hit .300 with 40 runs scored, 61 hits, 10 doubles, three triples and four home runs, while recording 29 RBI and 89 bases and slugging .438. Hansen reached base at a .397 clip and 110 put outs with 143 assists and just six errors for a .977 fielding percentage. He had 20 multi-hit games with five multi-RBI games. He tied for the team-high five steals on 10 attempts and had two different five game hit streaks throughout the season.
Hansen and his wife Brittany, WT's Ticketing Coordinator and former Lady Buff Softball standout, reside in Canyon.
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