Colorado Mesa University Athletics

Coach Chris “Skip” Hanks enters his 27th season as the Mavericks Head Coach. In his 25 seasons at the helm of the Colorado Mesa program, Hanks boasts an impressive 1,111-428 (.722) overall record. Under his leadership, the Mavericks have captured 18 RMAC Championships, been selected to the NCAA Division II National Tournament 21 times, and have reached the NCAA Division II College World Series four times (2009, 2014, 2017, 2019). He is a 12-time RMAC Coach of the Year, and has been named Regional Coach of the Year five times by the American Baseball Coaches Association (2009, 2014, 2017, 2019, 2023). In 2019 and 2021, he was also named the National Coach of the Year by the National College Baseball News Writers Association.

In 2019 Hanks led the Mavericks to a 53-12 record and their eighth straight RMAC Championship. They secured their fourth Regional Championship, and fourth trip to the Division II World Series by winning the Super Regional in San Angelo, TX, defeating Angelo State two games to one. They entered the World Series as the #1 National seed for the tournament. Their success continued at the Word Series advancing to the National Championship game for the second time in program history (2014), where they lost to the University of Tampa 3-1. Their drive to the title game included an opening win against N.Y. Tech, and two wins against Central Missouri, the second of which came in the National Semifinal game where senior pitcher Will Dixon pitched a complete-game 1-0 shutout to send the Mavericks to the National title game.

2018 brought about another Conference Championship and their 16^th trip to the NCAA Regionals where they lost the championship to Texas A&M Kingsville.  They completed the season with a 43-16 record. On March 8^th, the Coach Hanks won his 800^th game with a 2-0 win over UCCS at Suplizio Field.

During the 2017 season, the Mavericks won their sixth consecutive RMAC Championship and their 11^th in the last 13^th seasons. Hanks led the Mavericks to the NCAA Regionals for the ninth consecutive time where they defeated Arkansas-Fort Smith to claim their third regional title and their third trip to the Division II World Series. Their Season ended at the World Series where they lost in the National Semi-Final to West Chester University, who won the National Championship the next game.

2016 and 2015 both brought Conference championships and NCAA Regional appearances which the Mavericks hosted Suplizio Field. In 2014, Hanks led the Colorado Mesa to their first National championship game where the Mavericks fell to Southern Indiana University 3-2 in 12 innings.  Along the way they defeated St. Thomas Aquinas, Seton Hill, and top-ranked Tampa to reach the title game.

2009 marked the Colorado Mesa’s fist ever trip to the Division II Would series where they finished fifth. More NCAA Tournament appearances followed in 2010, 2011, 2012, and 2013.

2005 marked the first time in school history that the Mavericks hosted an NCAA Regional, and included a record-setting season by the future three-time MLB World Series Champion, Sergio Romo (San Francisco Giants).  2006 and 2007 brought about two more conference championships and NCAA Regionals. The 2007 team made it to the Regional Championship game, the school’s first regional championship appearance, losing to Cal. State Los Angeles.

On April 5, 2012 Coach Hanks became the All-Time Winningest Coach in Colorado Mesa history when he captured his 538^th win over Nebraska-Kearney 14-4. He surpassed Byron Wiehe who coached the Mavericks from 1976-1993 and had a career record of 537-347.

Coach Hanks’ teams have dominated the national scene offensively, posting 18 National Statistical Championships in Team Hitting statistics since 1999. One of those statistical championships came in 2004 when the Mavericks set an NCAA Division II national record for doubles with 190, a record which still stands to this day.  His teams also have one statistical championship for fielding average, and 4 top 10 finishes in fielding average during the same time span. In 2019, The Mavericks led the nation in winning percentage (.815) with a 53-12 overall record (school record for wins).  The Skipper has had 21 players drafted by MLB affiliated organizations and he has coached 14 first team all-Americans.

Coach Hanks served as the Mavericks assistant baseball coach for six seasons (’93-’98) and as assistant football coach for five seasons (’93-’97).

In his six seasons as the assistant baseball coach his primary duty was serving as the teams hitting instructor. During that span, the Mavericks captured eight National Statistical Championships for hitting. They led the nation in home runs in both 1996 and 1997 (96, 115) as well as slugging percentage (.609, .644) In 1997, the team was first with 156 doubles, led the nation in scoring with 10.3 runs/game, total bases and HR/game. He was also responsible for coaching the catchers, first baseman, as well as outfielders.

Chris is a native of Carbondale where he played football and baseball at Roaring Fork High School. He was drafted to play baseball out of high school, but chose to attend the College of Southern Idaho.
 
He was a two-time All-American catcher at CSI where he hit 48 home runs in his two-year career and led the nation with 26 as a freshman. He was also a two-time Region 18 Player of the Year selection.

Hanks was named MVP of the 1988 National Junior College Baseball World Series played in Grand Junction. He was again drafted by Boston and signed with the Red Sox. He played four years in their organization, and a year with the Detroit Tigers before an arm injury ended his career.

In 2007, Hanks was named to the NJCAA World Series JUCO "Golden Anniversary Team." The team was comprised of the top 20 players and two coaches spanning the 50-year history of the World Series.
 
Chris is a 1993 graduate of Mesa State College with a Bachelor of Science degree in Education. He received his Associates Degree from the College of Southern Idaho in 1988. In 1997 he earned his Master’s Degree in Physical Education/Pedagogy from the University of Northern Colorado.
 
Chris and wife Nikki have three children, son Jared, daughters Kylie and Natalie. Nikki is a native of Montrose and a graduate of Colorado Mesa.

Milestones:
First Win || February 11, 1999 in St. George, Utah (9-6 vs. Southern Utah)
100th Win || April 8, 2001 in Kearney, Neb. (5-2 vs. Nebraska-Kearney)
200th Win || March 13, 2004 in Nampa, Idaho (10-4 vs. Saint Martin's)
300th Win || April 23, 2006 in Grand Junction (6-2 vs. Fort Hays State)
400th Win || May 8, 2008 in Grand Junction (22-3 vs. Regis in the RMAC Tournament)
500th Win || April 9, 2011 in Kearney, Neb. (9-5 vs. Nebraska-Kearney)
538th Win || April 5, 2012 in Grand Junction (14-4 vs. Nebraska-Kearney) *Made him the all-time winngest coach in program history*
600th Win || May 9, 2014 in Grand Junction (13-5 vs. CSU-Pueblo in the RMAC Tournament)
700th Win || February 19, 2016 in Riverside, Calif. (5-4 vs. Cal Baptist) 
800th Win || March 9, 2018 in Grand Junction (2-0 vs. UCCS)
900th Win || February 26, 2021 in Grand Junction (17-5 vs. Montana State Billings)
1,000th Win || March 24, 2023 in Lakewood, Colo. (15-0 vs. Colorado Christian)
1,100th Win || April 25, 2025 in Grand Junction (9-2 vs. Rollins)
 

Hanks' Year-by-Year Head Coaching Record
Year	Overall	Pct.	RMAC	Finish	Postseason
2025	42-14	.750	26-4	1st	NCAA South Central Regional
2024	38-18	.679	24-8	1st	NCAA South Central Regional
2023	48-11	.814	30-2	1st	NCAA South Central Super Regionals
2022	43-17	.717	23-9	1st	NCAA South Central Super Regionals
2021	42-7	.857	34-2	1st	NCAA South Central Regional
2020*	14-4	.777	4-0
2019	53-12	.815	29-7	1st	NCAA World Series Finalist
2018	43-16	.729	26-9	1st	NCAA South Central Regional
2017	50-12	.806	32-4	1st	NCAA World Series
2016	43-13	.768	29-7	1st	NCAA South Central Regional
2015	48-9	.842	35-4	1st	NCAA South Central Regional
2014	47-13	.783	31-7	1st	NCAA World Series Finalist
2013	45-11	.804	35-3	1st	NCAA Central Regional
2012	39-16	.709	33-9	1st	NCAA Central Regional
2011	35-21	.625	24-16	2nd	NCAA Central Regional
2010	37-20	.649	24-10	2nd	NCAA Central Regional
2009	44-15	.746	29-8	1st	NCAA World Series
2008	42-17	.712	31-9	1st	none
2007	49-14	.778	34-6	1st	NCAA West Regional
2006	39-19	.672	22-7	1st	NCAA West Regional
2005	46-16	.742	24-4	1st	NCAA West Regional
2004	44-19	.698	19-9	2nd	NCAA West Regional
2003	27-26	.509	15-8	2nd	none
2002	39-23	.629	20-8	2nd	NCAA West Regional
2001	38-21	.644	16-12	1st	none
2000	34-26	.567	16-12	2nd	none
1999	42-17	.712	19-9	1st	NCAA West Regional
27 years	1,111-428	.722	657-191	.775	22 NCAA Regionals, 4 CWS, 2 NCAA National Runner-ups