Brunswick boys basketball coach Todd Hanson watches a practice during the 2001-2002 season at the Cumberland County Civic Center in Portland. Portland Press Herald file photo

BRUNSWICK — Brunswick High School boys basketball coach Todd Hanson announced Tuesday he was resigning after 25 seasons in the program.

“I’ve had people tell me over the years that you know when the time is right,” said Hanson, 53. “I felt in my heart that this was a good time to pass the torch and step down.”

Hanson, who won 314 games and the 2002 Class A state title, announced his decision on his Twitter account.

Hanson took over the Brunswick program as a 29-year old in 1996, slowly building the Dragons into a Class A contender. Brunswick went undefeated in 2002, winning the program’s lone Gold Ball.

“Well, he certainly put us on the map and created a new standard of basketball at Brunswick,” said Brunswick athletic director Jeff Ramich. “What makes him such a great coach is that he’s a great teacher and relates well with the kids on and off the floor.”

Hanson knew he wanted to pursue coaching and teaching when he was just seven years old, after watching his father, Skip, win a state title at Dover-Foxcroft in 1975.

I was hooked after that, it’s all I ever wanted to do,” said Hanson. “When I got the job in Brunswick it felt like I had landed in heaven. Every day I have such a great appreciation of where I am and the position I’m in.”

At the time, Hanson and his father became the only father-son duo to lead their teams to a state championship, until Mark Reed led Hermon to a state title in 2018 to join his father, Roger.

While the 2002 season was the peak of Hanson’s career, it’s the relationships he made along the way that he’ll cherish most as he reflects on his career.

“I still keep in touch with a lot of the guys who I’ve coached over the years,” Hanson said. “To cultivate those relationships over the years, has really been what coaching is all about. I’ve coached a lot of great people and feel fortunate to have crossed paths with some amazing people along the way.”

Hanson’s ability to form relationships on and off the court resonated with his players.

“Coach Hanson has not only helped me grow as a player, but also as a young man,” said current Brunswick senior Evan Kilfoil. “From teaching us how to box out to how to properly shake hands with another person, he’s made a huge impact on me and so many others who have come through this program.”

Hanson is a Waterville Senior High School graduate, winning a Class A Gold Ball in 1985 with the Purple Panthers.

Mt. Ararat boys basketball coach Dave Dubreuil — a rival on the court and friend off of it — said it was “sad” to hear the news of Hanson’s resignation.

“We became friends on a different level over the years,” Dubreuil said. “I can’t say enough of how he helped me and let me pick his brain, I wouldn’t be the same coach today if it weren’t for Todd (Hanson).”

Dubreuil will miss the rivalry on the court, with the class and graciousness that Hanson brought to each game.

“He was such a great person to coach against, I feel lucky that we were rivals for so many years,” said Dubreuil. “He was always so calm and collected and coached the right way. I’m truly going to miss looking down to the opposing bench and not seeing him next season in Brunswick.”

Ramich said Hanson will be difficult to replace.

“From the youth summer camps all the way up to the high school level, he built the program from the ground up while doing it the right way,” said Ramich. “It’s the little things like that that we’re going to miss the most. He made our program a family.”

As for Hanson’s next move, he’s almost certain he will not be a head coach again.

“I think I can safely say I am done being a head coach,” said Hanson. “I’m really tied to the Brunswick community, and hopefully I will stay involved in some way down the road.”