When John Hanna was appointed to the Rancho Santiago Community College District Board of Trustees in 1998, he didn’t realize his connection with the district, and specifically with Santiago Canyon College, would become a family affair.

Hanna and his wife, Cynthia, have seven children between them, including six who were part of RSCCD men’s and women’s soccer programs, with five of them having played for the SCC Hawks.

Now having served more than 22 years as an elected member representing Trustee Area 2, Hanna is not only a long-time public servant of the district, but also an RSCCD parent who has watched his children grow and flourish during their time on campus as student-athletes.

The son of a Navy supply officer, Hanna was born at the Naval Air Station North Island in San Diego. After moving around the country, his father’s last duty station assignment was in 1964 at the Marine Corps Air Station in El Toro. He attended Tustin High School and Cal State Fullerton and then went on to Loyola Law School in Los Angeles.

In addition to serving on the RSCCD Board of Trustees, he has spent his career as a political attorney and is currently the government affairs director/special counsel for the Southwest Regional Council of Carpenters.

The couple settled in the foothills of Orange and call Holy Family Catholic Church their parish home. Of their seven children — Caitlin, Caroline, Jacqueline (Jocko), Janelle, John Patrick (JP), Kelly and Kiera — Caroline, Jacqueline, Janelle and John Patrick played soccer for SCC, while daughter Kelly played for Santa Ana College. Kiera is in her final year at SCC and also plays for the Hawks’ women’s soccer program.

Like many families in Orange County, the Hannas started their kids in youth soccer when they were young. They all found a love for the game and went on to play for local club teams, as well as the varsity team at El Modena High School. Outside of a short stint as a goalkeeper for Jacqueline, all the Hanna kids play on the defensive side of the ball.

When it came time to choose a college path, SCC made perfect sense, from the quality of instructors and athletic opportunities to the affordability and proximity.

John Hanna during a press conference in March 2017 at Westminster City Hall (Photo by Sam Gangwer, Orange County Register/SCNG)

“I honestly felt that they were going to get a good education those first two years,” Hanna said. “They had a great experience. They were happy with the friends they made, they were happy with the soccer program, and they were close to home.”

Contributing to their positive experience was the rise of the Hawks’ women’s soccer program. Head coach Ian Woodhead brought a depth of experience to campus in establishing the program, and during his time at the helm, the Hawks have earned 16 Orange Empire Conference championships, four state titles and one national championship. Caroline, Jacqueline, Janelle and Kiera all played for Woodhead’s championship-winning teams. Jacqueline was on the team that earned the national title in 2009.

Additionally, Hanna credits the commitment of college leadership to build the natural-grass field that not only brought his kids to the campus, but many other students and families who have discovered SCC.

“We couldn’t have done it if we didn’t have a couple of things — one is a good soccer coach, and two, the vision of this college to build that soccer field,” Hanna said. “Woodhead transformed it because he was the first coach. They built that field and people started coming in.”

Caroline, Jacqueline and Janelle went on to Cal State Los Angeles to play soccer and earn their bachelor’s degrees. Caroline works alongside her husband at their trucking company, Jacqueline and Kelly are personal trainers and Janelle is a nurse.

John Patrick attended Chico State and is following in his father’s footsteps working as a governmental affairs and political strategist in Sacramento. Kiera is currently considering her options for college programs that will allow her to continue playing soccer while pursuing a degree in nursing.

Hanna and his wife spent many days in the stands at SCC cheering on their children as they competed on the pitch, a role he feels has fostered a unique connection with the community.

As for the Hanna children, their time as Hawks not only allowed them to pursue athletics at the next level, it also enabled them to set an academic foundation for their future career paths.

“They look back on their lives, and they told me that those are the days that they long for,” Hanna said of his kids’ time at SCC. “Every one of them says it was the best time of their lives. They loved the school.”

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