craigdailypress.com

There are a number of reasons Eric Hansen's Speech and Debate Team describes him as a great coach. One tops the list.

He's been there.

Hansen participated in Englewood High School's speech team for three years.

Now 24, Hansen escorts Moffat County High School seniors-to-be Emily Norris and Tanya Rinehart to the National Forensic League's national tournament this week in Wichita, Kan.

"I really enjoyed it in high school," Hansen said. "I think it's what really made high school fun for me."

Hansen joined the high school staff as a history and economics teacher three years ago after graduating from the University of Northern Colorado in Greeley. He took over the Speech and Debate Team at the same time.

"I think it helped me a lot in life -- being in front of groups," Hansen said, adding speech prepared him to teach in front of a classroom of teenagers. "I spend more time with (the speech team) than my real family. I know them really well."

Hansen celebrated his one-year anniversary with his wife, Amy, on Saturday. Amy, an English teacher at Hayden High School, accompanied the group on their Kansas trip and gets to see where her husband is spending his time.

That student-coach bonding time -- the team travels to tournaments every other weekend from October to April -- is what builds tight relationships, Rinehart said.

"It still has that adult-child presence, but we know each other outside the classroom," she said. "He knows what it's like to have people in the room judging you on how good you are."

Norris said she appreciates Hansen's ability to joke around with students.

"He's still our teacher but he makes it fun for us," Norris said. "Everyone just feels comfortable with him. I think he cares about everyone on the speech team."

Students purchased Hansen a PlayStation Portable this year so he could play games with them on lengthy bus rides, which he is happy to do.

"I think some people don't give high school kids enough credit and don't let them be who they truly are," Hansen said. "I treat them like human beings."

That's easy, Hansen said, considering the students on the team.

"The kids the speech team attracts are usually pretty good kids," he said.

Plus, it gives Hansen the chance to participate in something he enjoyed as a teenager and bond with students he has in class.

"Even though I love history, I wouldn't get to work with the students one-on-one, getting to know them as people instead of students at desks," he said.