Stevenson golf coach Bill Hankison retiring

After 38 years of coaching sports at Stevenson and bringing the school its first state title, Bill Hankison is retiring.

Since becoming head coach of the golf team in 2005, the Pirates enjoyed a run of nine consecutive league titles and five consecutive Central Coast Section titles between 2010-2014.

"He never gets down on you if you have a bad round or anything," senior Pirates golfer Nick Simmons said. "Supportive. He helps us all out a lot and will pretty much do anything we need in order to help us achieve success."

 In 2013, Hankison led the Pirates to a victory in the CIF State Boys Golf Championships, the school's first state title in any sport. But Hankison didn't only coach golf at Stevenson.

Since arriving in Pebble Beach in 1976, Hankison has coached tennis, girls and boys basketball and golf at Stevenson. He has also served as a counselor, teacher and chair of the English department. Hankison said he will continue to teach.

"He's a good guy. It's been fun knowing him for the past four years," said senior Sunny Yan. "Even like outside of golf, just like conversations we've had in the van (going to and from tournaments). He's been my teacher for the past few years in English as well, so we've gotten pretty close."

Yan will be participating in the CIF State Boys Golf Championships on June 3 as an individual for Stevenson.

Stevenson athletic director Jeff Young, who is also retiring, arrived at the school in 1979. Hankison was already hard at work enriching the lives of Stevenson students by then.

"Bill has done a remarkable job of being such a positive influence in the lives of so many students both in the classroom and in the sporting arenas," Young said. "He has spent countless hours helping students discover and expand their passions in life. Bill is a master teacher and coach and has garnered deep respect among players and coaches alike."

At the Mission Trail Athletic League Golf Championships last month, Carmel coach Ross Kroeker presented Hankison with a pin flag signed by the golfers. Kroeker said he likes to pick Hankison's brain for wisdon.

"Bill cares a lot about the kids," Kroeker said. "Not just the players on his team, but about all of the players."