Richard Alan Hanson was born on December 25, 1949, in Hillsboro, North Dakota.
[1] North Dakota State was named small college national champions in 1968 and 1969.
[1] Hanson served a stint as a graduate assistant for the North Dakota State Bison football team after his NFL career.
[2] He graduated from North Dakota State with a Bachelor of Arts in sociology and a Master of Science in child development and family relations.
[2] He also earned a Doctor of Philosophy in applied behavioral science from the University of California, Davis.