Home | Hanover Bears Football

Hanover
Bears
Football

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Our Teams

Flag Football

Our flag football program, run through the Hanover Parks and Rec Department, is a fun way to introduce kindergartners through 6th graders to the game of football.

Our program focuses on learning the fundamentals of the game like passing, catching, and running with the ball, while developing and encouraging teamwork. Players will begin to grasp football terminology and more confidently understand the game. Our flag football program is a supportive, low-contact environment that encourages participation and builds confidence. It’s also a great way for kids from the broader community to meet each other and make lasting friendships across town lines.

Our program is open to boys and girls from Hanover, Lyme, and Norwich, the team meets twice a week at Tenney Park, and is ideal for anyone who wants to try organized football for the first time or to develop their skills alongside their friends, all while competing against other teams.

Link below to the Hanover Parks & Recreation website to sign up

Middle School

Our middle school football program is designed for students entering 6th-8th grades who want to take their love for the game of football to the next level by competing against other teams from New Hampshire and Vermont in tackle football.

Our program provides structured practices four days each week at Hanover High School and games on Wednesdays. Transportation to Hanover High School is available on SAU 70 Bus routes. Players will develop their technique and skills and learn the intricacies of the game in practices and through film study. They will then translate that learning into games.

The players will learn the Hanover High School offense and defense in preparation for playing high school football. They will learn how to safely tackle and be tackled to reduce the risk of injury, and they will also learn and perform drills that will enable them to become stronger, more confident football players.

While the middle school football program is designed to learn and play the game in preparation for high school football, this program is built on three principles: character, leadership, and excellence. Success for the program is defined by the players learning and developing these core principles to help them become better members of the community.

Link below to the Friends of Hanover Football Google Form to sign up

Hanover High School

The Hanover High School football program is an NHIAA division II football program that competes against other high schools around the state of New Hampshire. The program is committed to developing student-athletes that can compete at the highest levels of interscholastic athletics.

During the season, players will learn discipline necessary for the game of football, and they will perfect the offense, defense, and special teams to prepare them for Friday nights and potentially collegiate football. Players will learn how to safely and effectively tackle to reduce injuries and establish confidence on the field. Players will use extensive film study to better understand their own performance and that of their weekly opponents. Out of season, the players will work to become stronger athletes. The program has a 12-month strength and conditioning program designed to teach athletes the foundational blocks of strength and conditioning that translate onto the football field and beyond for multi-sport athletes.

Forming the foundation of the entire program is our focus on developing character, leadership, and excellence. The program is committed to helping young men become better versions of themselves, better members of their families, and better members of the community. The goals of the program transcend the football field and are the keys to success beyond the walls of Hanover High School.

Link below to the SAU 70 Hanover High School Final Forms website to sign up

Questions? Reach out to Coach Gentine

Why Families Choose
Hanover Football

"Both of my boys have played Hanover Bears football, and the impact has been incredible. They’ve grown as leaders, built lasting friendships, and gained confidence while learning what it truly means to be part of a team and work toward a common goal. Just as important, the program made the transition to high school much easier. Preseason practices helped them get comfortable on campus before school even began, and the team instantly gave them a group of friends. The mentoring program—pairing younger players with upperclassmen—was an outstanding support as they navigated their first year of high school. I couldn’t be happier with the positive impact the Hanover Bears football program has had on my kids."

“I had heard great things about the Hanover ‘football family,’ but seeing it firsthand has exceeded every expectation. My son’s grades improved, he is more engaged and proactive at home, and his confidence and self awareness has grown. The accountability these players have for each other, along with the strong sense of brotherhood and emphasis on safety and respect, sets this program apart. Coach Gentine and his staff are approachable, consistent, and hold these young men to a high standard—Coach is also a trusted ‘go-to’ for teachers and counselors when it comes to his players. What stands out most is how the program embraces and unites the family’s —through team dinners, game days, and a culture where everyone feels involved. It is far more than the game of football.”

Registration Open

Flag Football Team

Middle School Team

Hanover High School Team

Questions? Reach out to Coach Gentine

Inside the Huddle:
Meet Our Coaches

Coach Gentine

HEAD COACH

Coach Gentine has been involved in the game of football for more than 26 years as both a player and coach. He played wide receiver at the University of Notre Dame for two years before beginning his coaching career.

Prior to joining the Hanover program, Coach Gentine served as a coach at Marist High School in Chicago and at Delbarton School in Morristown, New Jersey. He later spent seven years coaching wide receivers at Hanover High School and two years as the head middle school coach before being named Head Coach of the Hanover Bears in 2025.

In addition to coaching, Coach Gentine teaches Government and Politics and United States History at Hanover High School.

Offensive & Defensive Line / Special Teams

Coach Lawrence

Coach Lawrence has been involved in football as a player or coach since 1965. Over more than 40 years of coaching, he has worked as both a head coach and assistant coach at the high school, prep school, and college levels.

Reflecting on his career, Coach Lawrence says, “I am eternally grateful to all the great coaches I have coached with and against, because I like to think I learned something from all of them.”

In 2026, Coach Lawrence will coach the offensive and defensive lines and serve as the team’s special teams coordinator.

Coach Sobel

Assistant Coach / Offensive Line / Technology Director

Coach Sobel began his football career as a punter at Colgate University in the mid-1980s, where he had the opportunity to learn from some of the top coaches in the Patriot League.

Reflecting on his return to the game, Coach Sobel shares, “After being out of the football world for a number of years, I was excited to return as an assistant coach at Hanover.”

He previously served as the Head Coach of the Hanover JV program for several years before transitioning to his current role working with the offensive line. In addition to his coaching responsibilities, Coach Sobel serves as the program’s Technology Director, managing the team’s video operations and Hudl platform.

Coach Ivanoski (“Coach I”)

Linebackers/ Running backs

Coach Ivanoski has been a teacher and coach in the Hanover School District for 34 years and served as Hanover’s head football coach for 20 seasons from 1995–2014. During his tenure, he built one of the most successful eras in program history, highlighted by a six-year home winning streak that ran from October 2000 through September 2006.

Under Coach Ivanoski’s leadership, Hanover reached five state championship games, winning three titles in 2002, 2004, and 2005, and finishing as state runner-up in 2001 and 2007. The 2002 Marauders completed a perfect 11–0 season and captured the state championship while allowing just 40 total points all year. He was honored three times as “Coach of the Year.”

Coach Ivanoski was also selected by his peers to serve as the head coach of the New Hampshire Shrine Team in 2005 and previously served as the team’s Defensive Coordinator in 1995. During his time leading the program, Hanover Football earned nine NHIAA Sportsmanship Awards, three NHIAA Referees Sportsmanship Awards, and was recognized as the “Most Improved Program” by the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame in 2001.

Coach Colby

Strength & Conditioning / Hanover Flag Football

Coach Colby was born and raised in Maine and developed a love for sports early, playing football, basketball, and lacrosse throughout high school. After graduating, he joined the United States Marine Corps and continued playing semi-pro six-man football while stationed in Texas.

Following his service, Coach Colby focused on sport-specific strength and conditioning, dedicating himself to discovering the most effective and comprehensive ways to train athletes. Reflecting on his approach, he says, “The passion I bring isn’t just for the game. It’s building the character it takes to play the game. It’s the bonds amongst brothers. It’s the lessons that will permeate their lives, and I feel so blessed to be a part of it.”

Coach Colby serves as the program’s year-round Strength and Conditioning Coordinator and is also the director and a coach for Hanover Flag Football.

Coach Rotchford

Wide Receivers / Defensive Backs

Coach Rotchford has lived in Hanover for the past 13 years and has been involved in football since the fifth grade, when he began playing for his local Pop Warner team. He went on to play high school football at Xaverian Brothers High School in Westwood, Massachusetts, before continuing his career at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) in Troy, New York, where he played four years of college football.

His coaching experience includes five years coaching and directing Hanover Flag Football, two years as an assistant coach for Hanover Middle School football, and one year as the middle school head coach. Last season, he assisted the Hanover varsity program with special teams.

In 2026, Coach Rotchford will coach the wide receivers and defensive backs.

Coach Tkac

Linebackers / Quarterbacks

Coach Tkac played two years of college football at Washington & Jefferson College before transferring to Castleton University, where he played one season of football and two seasons of rugby.

He joined the Hanover coaching staff in 2022 and has been part of the program’s continued development in recent seasons. In 2026, Coach Tkac will work with the linebackers and quarterbacks.

Coach Richardson

Coach Richardson brings a strong foundation in player development and a passion for the game to the Hanover Bears program. Originally from Texas, he developed his love for football through his youth playing experience and later while competing on a United States Marine Corps base team.

Before joining the Hanover High School staff, Coach Richardson spent three years coaching at the middle school level. The 2026 season will mark his first year coaching high school football, where he will work with the running backs.

In addition to coaching, Coach Richardson serves as Director of Nutrition at Alice Peck Day Memorial Hospital, where he helps athletes understand the importance of proper fueling, recovery, and performance.

Running Backs

Coach Welsh

Coach Welsh played offensive and defensive line at Pomperaug High School in Connecticut before continuing his football career at Colby College. At Colby, he played center and offensive tackle before moving into an offensive assistant role during his senior year after a preseason season-ending injury.

In addition to his football background, Coach Welsh served ten years in the United States Army Reserve as an Intelligence Officer. Professionally, he works in pricing strategy and innovation for CVS Health.

Coach Welsh lives in Etna with his wife, Meredith, their daughter Tess, and their son Colin. In 2026, he will coach the offensive and defensive lines for Hanover.

Offensive & Defensive Line

TRIS WYKES photography

Frechette twins embrace challenges with Macalester College football, Valley News

BEARS IN THE NEWS

Built in Hanover - More than a game, a pathway!

Courtesy photograph

Hanover sophomore shines at national kicking showcase, Valley News

A huge thank you to the Hanover Marauder Football alumni who paved the way and continue to support the next generation of Hanover football players. Your dedication, tradition, and pride helped build the foundation that today’s Hanover Bears stand on.

INVEST IN Hanover Athletes

Your support directly strengthens the Hanover Bears Football program—providing our athletes with the tools they need to train, compete, and succeed safely.

Contributions help fund state-of-the-art safety equipment, uniforms, training resources, and upgraded facilities for players from grade school through high school. Every dollar invested fuels the growth, confidence, and ambition of our athletes as they strive to compete at the highest level.

Join us in building a stronger, safer, and more competitive future for the Hanover Bears.

BACK A BEAR GOFUNDME PAGE

OR Friends of Hanover Football Venmo

@Hanover-Football

Questions? Reach out to Coach Gentine

2026 contributions will directly support: