Alison Winters Hanson
Tri-County Gators Head Coach
Originally from Cottage Grove, Coach Alison is thrilled to be living in Mount Horeb and part of the Gators! She and her family, husband Eric and two daughters, Lydia and Marin, moved to Mount Horeb in fall of 2017. Alison is the 6-12 grade art teacher at New Glarus Middle and High School and has been since 2004-2005. In New Glarus, she also works with PBIS, is the yearbook advisor, Art Club advisor, and editor and producer of the school newscast, The Knightly News. Alison has a BA from UWGB in Studio Art, a PK-12 Art Teaching Certificate, and a Masters in Educational Administration from Edgewood College.
Alison began swimming as a high school freshman at MG in 1993, when a friend suggested joining with her. It was a rough start having never worn a swim cap, not knowing how to dive, and still plugging her nose. But, by the end of four years of high school swim team, club and summer swimming, she earned a scholarship for swimming to Division I University of Wisconsin-Green Bay. While in GB, she was on two Conference Championship Winning Teams, numerous champion swims, and elected captain as a junior and senior. Alison focused mostly on sprint freestyle and backstroke while in GB.
Alison began coaching as an assistant coach at Monona Swim and Dive club in 1998 and stayed until 2000. In 2001, she took over the club as head coach and remained until moving to New Glarus in 2004. She also assisted with M*G*M (Monona Grove Madison) Aquatic Club in 2002-2004. While teaching, she assisted the Oregon High School women's team in 2008, 2009 and the Oregon High School men's team in 2009, 2010.