Scott Hanover selected for pair of prestigious national recognitions

Hanover is one of 19 volunteers from USTA Missouri Valley appointed to serve on a USTA National committee, and is one of four individuals from the section tabbed as chair or vice chair with his role as Volunteer Management Council vice chair. He is on the USTA Missouri Valley DE&I Outreach Committee.

Hanover has emceed both the section’s Hall of Fame Induction and Awards Celebration as well as the USTA Heart of America Annual Awards for more than two decades. Hanover—who was inducted into the USTA Missouri Valley Hall of Fame in 2021—has served as committee chair of the USTA Heart of America Hall of Fame since its founding in 1999.

RSI Recognition

Hanover took on the role of Pembroke Hill School boys’ tennis head coach in 2021 after previously coaching at Rockhurst High School and jumpstarting a fledgling tennis program at Platte County High School.

Hanover has guided the Pembroke Hill Raiders to three straight Missouri State High School Activities Association Class 3 team championships (2022-24). Last spring, two of his doubles teams made the state championship for an all-Pembroke Hill final. The Raiders’ on-court dominance is only part of the equation for Hanover’s recognition as RSI High School Coach of the Year.

“It was such an honor for me because I really didn’t see that coming,” he said. “I had no idea I had been nominated or even considered. When the announcement came out, I was completely flabbergasted. My first random, funny thought was, ‘I’m not even sure I’m the best coach in Kansas City.’ It made me laugh.

“But I realized maybe the reason I received the honor is—yes, our team has had some great successes—but I combine all that success with a lot of outreach within the Stephanie Waterman Foundation where I work with lots of other high school kids. My reach is way beyond the players just on my team; I’m probably helping kids on 12 to 15 other teams. That’s what makes the honor so special. I feel like I’m a high school coach for a lot of kids.”

Eve Kraft Award

As Hanover reflected on the Eve Kraft USTA Community Service Award he thought of Barbara Fackel, a 1997 recipient of the award and one of a small contingent of individuals from USTA Missouri Valley to earn the national recognition. Hanover said Fackel, who left a significant imprint on USTA Missouri Valley and the USTA Iowa community specifically, was one of his idols when he began his USTA involvement in Iowa.

“To be recognized on the same platform as her really meant a lot to me because she was also somebody who crossed all areas of tennis,” Hanover said. “Not just her CTA, but in junior competition, player development and so many different areas. If it was named after Barbara Fackel I’d be just as excited.”

Right before Hanover was presented the Eve Kraft USTA Community Service Award on stage in southern California, a short video featuring Hanover played for the audience. An outburst of cheers and applause rang out when Hanover was shown on screen, a moment Hanover said he won’t soon forget.

“That is recognition from your peers and the other people who are out in the field doing what you’re doing,” he said. “I felt a rush like I couldn’t believe. I just thought, ‘What a great moment.’ I was so thrilled, especially for my family sitting there to hear all of that. That really meant just a ton to me. People love recognition, and there doesn’t even have to be a plaque with it. All that cheering was just overwhelming to me.”

Hanover credited USTA Missouri Valley for nominating him for the national honors, and he is looking forward to what’s ahead in his professional and volunteer roles.

“For the awards to come in a very short timeframe is just a wow,” Hanover said. “I’m going to keep plugging away. Like, these aren’t retirement awards. These are just motivation to keep going.”

To learn more about the Eve Kraft USTA Community Service Award, click here. To view Hanover’s recognition as High School Coach of the Year in RSI magazine, click here (Page 44).