Rachel Hanson was named Dartmouth softball head coach in the fall of 2010 and will begin her third season at the helm of the Big Green program in 2012-13.

In her two-year tenure, Hanson has led the Big Green to 31 wins, including wins over Ivy League rival, Harvard, as well as key non-conference opponents in North Texas and Stetson. Dartmouth has seen six players earn All-Ivy honors under her tutelage and has had two Academic All-Ivy selections. Additionally, the Big Green has had three players earn National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) All-America Scholar Athlete honors.

Dartmouth has seen growth in all facets of the game under Hanson. Hanson has helped guide freshman pitcher Kristen Rumley to one of the best rookie campaign's in recent history. Rumley concluded the 2012 campaign with 151 strikeouts, placing her second all-time on Dartmouth's single season list and marking the first time that a Big Green pitcher has thrown over 100 strikeouts in a season since the 2003 campaign. Rumley twice neared the single-game record with 12 strikeouts, one shy of the record. She earned national recognition with 9.1 strikeouts per seven innings ranking her No. 12 in the country and her 0.97 walks per game were 10th best.

Rumley has also spearheaded the Dartmouth hitters. The freshman was the Big Green's top hitter in 2012, batting .355 with 22 hits and six RBI. Sophomore Kara Curosh also flourished under Hanson's leadership and hit .290 as the Big Green's lone player to start each game in 2012.

Prior to her time appointment at Dartmouth, Hanson spent five years as the head softball coach at the University of Dallas.

 "I am thrilled to welcome Rachel to Dartmouth College and the Dartmouth athletic family," Athletics Director Harry Sheehy said. "She brings a passion for coaching and a desire to help young women reach their potential that was unmatched among the candidates. We look forward to working with her to continue the success of our softball program."

During Hanson's five-year tenure, she posted an overall record of 80-87, setting a school record for victories by a softball coach. She was hired as UD's head coach shortly after graduating from Trinity University in Texas and went right to work to turn the independent program into a winning program. After averaging 14 wins during her first three campaigns, the Crusaders posted a school-record 20 victories and featured the Association of Division III Independents (AD3I) Player of the Year and Rookie of the Year in 2009. Dallas was ranked among the top 20 nationally in scoring, doubles and triples and had two players selected as National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) All-America Scholar-Athletes.

In her last season, Hanson led the Crusaders to an 18-18 mark while six players earned All-AD3I status, while another received Scholar-Athlete All-America status from the United States Collegiate Athletic Association (USCAA). In her five seasons at the helm, a total of 22 of her athletes received all-independent accolades and seven received All-America recognition from the USCAA.

Hanson also has extensive experience working at softball camps, including serving as the head instructor at a Nike Softball Camp. She has been an instructor at various other camps, including Williams College, the University of Louisiana-Lafayette and UT-Dallas. Currently a member of the NFCA Hall of Fame Committee, Hanson also served on the NFCA Regional Realignment Committee.

In addition to her duties as the head softball coach, Hanson served as the head volleyball coach for five seasons. She guided the 2009 squad to the North Eastern Athletic Conference Tournament title and a berth in the NCAA Division III Tournament for the first time in the program's history.

A 2005 graduate of Trinity with a degree in political science, Hanson was a three-time all-conference selection for the Tigers' softball team. She captained the team to a conference championship in her senior year, helping Trinity place third at regionals with a final ranking of 19th in the NFCA Coaches' Poll. Hanson was a member of the Dean's List and Pi Sigma Alpha (the National Political Science Honor Society), plus chosen to the academic all-conference squad.