Former San Ramon Valley coach Hans de Lannoy died on Wednesday after an almost seven-year battle with most cancers. He was 72.
De Lannoy coached all around the Bay Space, however was a legend at SRV the place he coached the boys workforce within the Nineteen Eighties and the women within the 2000s. He additionally had teaching stops at Gunn and California.
Over his lengthy teaching profession that spanned over six many years, de Lannoy garnered 512 wins. In 2006, he led SRV’s ladies workforce to an East Bay Athletic League and North Coast Part Division I title.
He coined the time period, “Home of Champions” – a slogan that’s painted contained in the SRV health club partitions.
Former San Ramon Valley Boys Basketball Assistant Coach Hans de Lannoy, proper, acknowledges the gang earlier than the beginning of the sport towards the visiting Dougherty Valley Wildcats at San Ramon Valley Excessive College in San Ramon, CA on Tuesday, January 10, 2023. De Lannoy was honored earlier than the sport, and has this season devoted to his restoration from most cancers. (Don Feria for Bay Space Information Group)
“I’ve known him since 1990-91,” SRV coach Brian Botteen mentioned. “I was a student here, and he was my first teacher. And the very first day, the impact that he put on me is what every other person that’s had a part of getting to know him can share. He just had a connection and a way to make you feel comfortable, make you feel like you’re part of something.”
De Lannoy has been an assistant coach beneath Botteen for the final 10 years, and performed a key position in SRV’s run to the CIF Division I title final yr. Recognized for his capability to attach with gamers and coaches, Botteen mentioned he’ll miss de Lannoy’s outgoing presence across the workforce.
“That’s what I’m going to miss the most,” Botteen continued. “In the face of any adversity that he may have had that he didn’t share, he never focused on that. It was always, ‘Hey, how’s your mother-in-law doing? Or how’s your son?’ Always pouring in about other people than himself.
“And I wish we had more people that would take time to do that. And maybe this is a wake up call for some people that we can do that in honoring him. That’s the takeaway that I have at the moment.”
Hans de Lannoy, a longtime San Ramon Valley instructor and basketball coach, is carried off the courtroom by his former gamers after being inducted into the college’s athletic corridor of fame in Danville on Thursday. (Doug Duran/Bay Space Information Group)
Although De Lannoy had battled well being points for years, his passing was sudden. De Lannoy was current for SRV’s win over Foothill final Friday, however was out sick for Tuesday’s house sport over Dublin, in response to Botteen.
“I know there’s been cancer, there’s been remissions and there’s been treatments, but I think that over six or seven years of battling at some point, you know, how much battling is there to give?”
De Lannoy’s battle with most cancers began in 2019. He was initially identified with kidney most cancers, and had the cancerous kidney eliminated later that yr, however the illness then unfold by way of his lungs. The longtime coach would go on to fight the illness up till his demise, however that didn’t hold him away from the hardwood.
Even throughout his battle with most cancers, de Lannoy continued to teach and was a constant presence on SRV’s bench as a motivator who had an innate capability to attract up the proper play on the proper time. De Lannoy credited having a robust assist system as his motivation to proceed to be across the college and its basketball program.
Hans de Lannoy, proper, a longtime San Ramon Valley Excessive instructor and basketball coach, listens to San Ramon Valley Excessive basketball coach Brian Botteen as de Lannoy is inducted into the college’s athletic corridor of fame in Danville, Calif., on Thursday, Feb. 7, 2019. (Doug Duran/Bay Space Information Group)
“A great man. Helped so many with his positive energy,” wrote former Monte Vista basketball coach and NorCal Sports activities TV commentator Chris Babcock in an X submit. “My life is better because of him. Prayers for his family and the community he gave so much too…. Thanks Coach!”
“I would not be a coach without Hans. He will be missed but never forgotten,” California Excessive basketball coach Steve Ohlmeyer wrote in an X submit.
Botteen shared that SRV will honor De Lannoy throughout the remainder of the season by sporting capturing shirts with De Lannoy’s title and “Our Champion” written on them. The Wolves will even put on commemorative wristbands to honor De Lannoy and have a second of silence earlier than their house sport towards Monte Vista on Friday in Danville.
