Meet Our Coach:

Collegiate Coaching Highlights at Collegiate Club Nationals

• 2nd place — Women's Team, Collegiate Club National Championships, 2026

• 3rd place — Mixed Team Relay, Collegiate Club National Championships, 2026

• 8th place — Combined Men's & Women's Team, 2026

• 4th & 9th — Women's Draft-Legal Sprint, 2026

• 7× Women's Team Top-10 finishes

• 6× Mixed Team Relay Top-10 finishes

• 6× Combined Team Top-12 finishes

• 5× Men's Team Top-15 finishes

• 5 female athletes with Top-10 finishes in the Olympic-distance race

• 7 female athletes and 1 male athlete with Top-10 finishes in the Draft legal race

• 15+ UC Davis athletes with Top-10 finishes at Collegiate Club Nationals

• 15+ first-place finishes at in-season races and conference championships

* UC Davis is part of the West Coast Collegiate Triathlon Conference - WCCTC

Coached numerous athletes in many of the major national and world championships:

• Currently coach 3 Elite Development Athletes – athletes working towards earning their UISAT Elite License

• Age Group USAT National Championships - Olympic Distance

• Collegiate Club National Championships

• Ironman 140.6 World Championships, Kona, Hawaii

• Ironman 70.3 National and World Triathlon Championships

• Xterra World Championships, Maui

About Coach John Hansen

Coach Hansen has been the UC Davis Triathlon coach since 2004 and is a USA Triathlon Level III Certified Coach.  He was honored with the 2025 USA Triathlon Collegiate Coach of the Year.  

He has a Master's Degree in Exercise Physiology from California State University, Sacramento.

His coaching centers around creating a positive, enjoyable team environment, paired with exercise physiology, performance data, technical development, and hands-on coaching.  He uses TrainingPeaks and WKO to develop and monitor training programs and incorporates hands-on coaching, video analysis, strength and mobility training, nutrition guidance, and race strategy.

If you would like to contact Coach John, email coach @ ucdtri.com

Professional Background

Coach Hansen, spent five years as an Exercise Physiologist at the UC Davis Sports Performance Facility, conducting VO2, lactate, power, heart-rate, speed, strength, and other physiological assessments and applying the results to athletic performance.

Coach Hansen, also serves as President of the Collegiate Club Triathlon Coaches Association (CCTCA), co-chairs the USA Triathlon Collegiate Club Commission, coordinates athlete rankings and wave allocation for the Collegiate Club National Championships, and has contributed to 18+ USA Triathlon Multisport Zone articles.

Coaching philosophy

Foster confidence and consistency in work, to develop an encouraging training environment and performance outcomes.

Age Group and Pro/Elite triathletes (male and female) key results:

• 2008 Ironman Arizona Age group winner and course record holder, female

• 2009 3rd place (age group, female) Armature field, US Age Group National Championships

• 2009 Rookie Male Pro Triathlete of the Year

• 2010 8th, Pro Field (Male) 70.3 California

• 2010 22nd, Pro Field (Male) 70.3 Ironman World Championships

• 2011 5th, Pro Field (Male) Vineman 70.3 PR 3:50.05

• 2019 70.3 Ironman World Championship Qualifier (Male)

• 2019 8th & 12th age group/21st & 29th overall, male, Amateur field, USAT Age Group National Championships

• 2021 8th age group/39th overall, female, Amateur field, USAT Age Group National Championships

• 2021 13th age group/71st overall, male, Amateur field, USAT Age Group National Championships