JOHN KOVACH | Colleges Hanson has Malone rolling

CANTON -- Don Hanson is applying the football lessons that he learned from coach Guy Gibbs at Hickory High to his first head-coaching job at Malone College, and so far the strategy is working.
Hanson, 30, who helped Hickory to win a state championship in his senior year in 1989 under Gibbs, had Malone rolling with a 3-0 record entering Saturday's game against rival Walsh (4-0) in a Mid-States Football Association Mideast League game at Fawcett Stadium.
"At Hickory, I learned that you have to believe in yourself. The leader sets the tone. Guy [Gibbs] set the tone. He believed enough in his players and inspired us to believe in each other and win games. He turned the program around right away," said Hanson, who was a three-year starter at center and a one-year starter at linebacker for Hickory.
"Our motto was, 'Believe it,' when we won the state as a senior. When we won, we [had] that kind of a winning attitude."
Malone aide 2 years
Hanson, who also helped Hickory win two District 10 titles, succeeded Steve Saulnier as Malone's coach after serving two seasons as the Pioneers' defensive coordinator and secondary coach. Saulnier shifted to Geneva to become defensive coordinator under Geno DeMarco.
"Football is in your mind," said Hanson. "You have to believe that you can make things happen, and that's where it all starts, and the leader has to set the tone and the kids will follow you, like Guy [Gibbs set the tone]."
Hanson said preparation is a key to nurturing success.
"Preparation is important and that will make you confident because you will have the necessary competencies to win," said Hanson, who knew Gibbs even before they jelled together at Hickory.
"[Guy] was our midget football coach, too. I played youth football for him, and I knew very well," said Hanson, noting that Gibbs now is retired from coaching. "I see him every so often. We still stay in touch."
On a trial run
Hanson actually has the title of interim head coach at Malone, because he is in a test run.
"It's basically my job to earn. They are giving me a chance to prove myself. If I do a good job this year, they will hire me and take the interim out of the coaching name," said Hanson, who came to Malone from Olivet Nazarene University in Bourbonnais, Ill., where played and coached for about 10 years after graduating from Hickory.
Hanson was a two-year starter at strong safety for ONU, and made the NAIA All-District first team and was ONU's defensive backs MVP. He also was a two-time NAIA Academic All-American.
He graduated from Olivet Nazarene in 1994 with a major in religion, and then earned two master's degrees there in religion and teaching. He also became ONU's linebacker coach for two years and defensive coordinator for three.
Made his move
But then after head coach Mike Conway shifted to Geneva to become assistant coach and defensive coordinator under DeMarco, Hanson also made his move from ONU because, "I felt that it was time for me to go as well, and I was looking to move on [when] the opportunity opened up at Malone. It's a good football town and closer to home."
Hanson said Conway told him about the Malone opening when he arrived at Geneva.
"The ironic thing about it is Steve Saulnier was the head coach at Malone, and he went to Geneva to work with Geno as defensive coordinator," said Hanson, noting that Malone, Geneva and Olivet Nazarene all are members of the MSFA.
Hanson and Saulnier will be on opposing sides for the first time Saturday against Geneva at Fawcett Stadium at 2 p.m.
"We play them next weekend. It's going to be a big reunion," said Hanson whose wife, Andrea, also an ONU grad. They have two children: son Mac, 5, and daughter Marlee, 3.
Swanson, Fusek star
Malone has seven other area players on the roster, including Michael Swanson (East Liverpool), a sophomore cornerback and starter who was Malone's MVP in the secondary last year. He ranks sixth on the team in tackles with 11, including nine solo stops.
Swanson was a standout in Malone's 45-21 win over Olivet Nazarene two Saturdays ago with six tackles, including five solo stops, plus one interception and three pass deflections, and was named MSFA Mideast League Defensive Player of the Week.
Other area players are Mitch Fusek (Canfield), a sophomore cornerback; Adam Capretta (Canfield), sophomore wide receiver; Marty Kanetsky (Hubbard), sophomore safety; Mike Yost (Poland), sophomore cornerback; Lidel Hilson (Hubbard), freshman defensive end; and Shawn Marshall (United), freshman defensive lineman.
Fusek, who rotates as a starter, is team's second-leading tackler with 18 stops, including 11 unassisted and two pass breakups. He returned a fumble recovery 80 yards to a TD with 37 seconds left against Trinity International, to help Malone roll to a 41-7 win.
Capretta started the first game but broke his wrist in the contest and had surgery and is shelved for the season.