University of Minnesota Athletics
Five Minutes with Dan Hamann
5/7/2020 9:00:00 AM | Women's Hockey
Get to know the coaches and staff members who support the Gopher women's hockey program.
MINNEAPOLIS -- From the coaching staff to the support staff, the Gopher women's hockey team has a knowledgeable, passionate group of people dedicated to supporting its student-athletes both on and off the ice. Get to know the people behind the program who support the Gophers in their athletic and academic endeavors, this week featuring the Voice of Gopher Women's Hockey Dan Hamann.
Gopher Sports: When did you start working at the University of Minnesota:
Dan Hamann: Fall 2007. I've been doing play-by-play for Gopher women's hockey for 12 years.
GS: What's your alma mater and what did you study in college?
DH: I went to St. Cloud State and studied Mass Communications.
GS: What does your job entail?
DH: Researching and game preparation, interviewing, getting to know players as athletes and as people, occasional science tutor, troubleshooting technical problems during broadcasts, editing interviews for playback during games, setting up equipment prior to games -- and loving all my duties.
GS: How did you get into your field?
DH: I started in radio while still in high school as a weekend/part time disc jockey. As a high school senior, I was able to do my first radio play-by-play for our girls basketball team after our sports director got transferred to another station. In college, I did my first hockey game and have never looked back. It is my favorite sport to broadcast.
GS: How did you get into your current position at the University of Minnesota?
DH: I was initially hired by a man named Tom Witschen, who was contracted through the U to provide talent and equipment for internet and radio broadcasts to GWH.
GS: What is your favorite part about your job?
DH: Hard to say... I love it all. But most of all, it gives me something to look forward to during the long late fall and winter weeks. I also love the friendships from the staff and players during the years.
GS: What challenges do you face in your job?
DH: Mostly trying to coordinate this job with my main job, which is high school chemistry and physics teacher.
GS: What is your proudest moment in your professional career?
DH: I could say it's broadcasting four national championships, but I would have to say it's forging the great friendships with all the great athletes and people that have come through the U over the last dozen or so years.
GS: Did you ever play hockey? What's your athletic background?
DH: LOL, no, not unless you can count playing hockey in roller skates in the family basement using a wooden TinkerToy disc colored black as a puck and the 50-cent hockey stick my dad bought on clearance at the local discount store. Bought me the wrong kind, too -- I was a righty, and Dad bought lefty sticks -- so I learned how to play with my opposite hand. In high school, I was a three-sport athlete and played football, basketball, and baseball. I was recruited to play football in college. I STILL play baseball to this day.
GS: What is your favorite memory in your time working with Gopher women's hockey?
DH: March 18, 2011 -- Emily West scoring on a penalty shot in the first period of the national championship game versus Wisconsin to put the Gophers up 3-2. The move was great, and the bench-leap afterward exhilarating.
GS: If you could trade jobs with anyone in Gopher Athletics for a day, who would it be and why?
DH: Goldy -- to put smiles on kids' faces -- and oh, to spin my head, too. That would be cool.
GS: What is your favorite professional or college sport or team to watch?
DH: I can't pick one. It's a tie between Twins, Vikings, and Wild.
GS: What are your hobbies? What do you like to do in your free time?
DH: I play baseball in the summer, and I like to go fishing with my dad. Do jig-saw puzzles. I like watching really geeky science and math-related videos on YouTube, too.
GS: Name something that people would be surprised to learn about you or something not many people know about you.
DH: I hold my high school's records for most field goals in a game (3) and longest punt (83 yards).
GS: Fill in the blank: If I wasn't working in broadcast, I would be a ________________.
DH: If I wasn't working in broadcast, I would be a high school science teacher. Because I AM both already.
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Gopher Sports: When did you start working at the University of Minnesota:
Dan Hamann: Fall 2007. I've been doing play-by-play for Gopher women's hockey for 12 years.
GS: What's your alma mater and what did you study in college?
DH: I went to St. Cloud State and studied Mass Communications.
GS: What does your job entail?
DH: Researching and game preparation, interviewing, getting to know players as athletes and as people, occasional science tutor, troubleshooting technical problems during broadcasts, editing interviews for playback during games, setting up equipment prior to games -- and loving all my duties.
GS: How did you get into your field?
DH: I started in radio while still in high school as a weekend/part time disc jockey. As a high school senior, I was able to do my first radio play-by-play for our girls basketball team after our sports director got transferred to another station. In college, I did my first hockey game and have never looked back. It is my favorite sport to broadcast.
GS: How did you get into your current position at the University of Minnesota?
DH: I was initially hired by a man named Tom Witschen, who was contracted through the U to provide talent and equipment for internet and radio broadcasts to GWH.
GS: What is your favorite part about your job?
DH: Hard to say... I love it all. But most of all, it gives me something to look forward to during the long late fall and winter weeks. I also love the friendships from the staff and players during the years.
GS: What challenges do you face in your job?
DH: Mostly trying to coordinate this job with my main job, which is high school chemistry and physics teacher.
GS: What is your proudest moment in your professional career?
DH: I could say it's broadcasting four national championships, but I would have to say it's forging the great friendships with all the great athletes and people that have come through the U over the last dozen or so years.
GS: Did you ever play hockey? What's your athletic background?
DH: LOL, no, not unless you can count playing hockey in roller skates in the family basement using a wooden TinkerToy disc colored black as a puck and the 50-cent hockey stick my dad bought on clearance at the local discount store. Bought me the wrong kind, too -- I was a righty, and Dad bought lefty sticks -- so I learned how to play with my opposite hand. In high school, I was a three-sport athlete and played football, basketball, and baseball. I was recruited to play football in college. I STILL play baseball to this day.
GS: What is your favorite memory in your time working with Gopher women's hockey?
DH: March 18, 2011 -- Emily West scoring on a penalty shot in the first period of the national championship game versus Wisconsin to put the Gophers up 3-2. The move was great, and the bench-leap afterward exhilarating.
GS: If you could trade jobs with anyone in Gopher Athletics for a day, who would it be and why?
DH: Goldy -- to put smiles on kids' faces -- and oh, to spin my head, too. That would be cool.
GS: What is your favorite professional or college sport or team to watch?
DH: I can't pick one. It's a tie between Twins, Vikings, and Wild.
GS: What are your hobbies? What do you like to do in your free time?
DH: I play baseball in the summer, and I like to go fishing with my dad. Do jig-saw puzzles. I like watching really geeky science and math-related videos on YouTube, too.
GS: Name something that people would be surprised to learn about you or something not many people know about you.
DH: I hold my high school's records for most field goals in a game (3) and longest punt (83 yards).
GS: Fill in the blank: If I wasn't working in broadcast, I would be a ________________.
DH: If I wasn't working in broadcast, I would be a high school science teacher. Because I AM both already.
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