Amanda Smith
Managing Editor
With the love of the game fueling her, Hannah Mortimer has seen nearly every crevice of the basketball world. From high school and college ball to the Harlem Globetrotters, Mortimer is now an assistant coach for the women’s team at Butler. Mortimer has always lived by the “everyday matters” mindset, which has helped her succeed through all levels of play.
“When I was young, I wanted to be a professional basketball player and after that I wanted to be a coach,” Mortimer said. “And believe it or not, I wanted to be on the Globetrotters since Lynnette Woodard was the first female to play for the Globetrotters who is a Kansas native. So everything seems to be lining up with what I wanted to do when I was a kid.”
Mortimer graduated from Southeast of Saline High School before earning her associate’s in business management and then her bachelor’s in psychology from WSU with an emphasis in women’s studies and a minor in sports management.
Standing at just 5 foot 4 inches tall, Mortimer recognized that she needed something else to stand out on the court. Using her competitiveness and what she calls an “obsession at being great at something,” she began intensely practicing ball handling with an endgame in mind.
“It was always a known dream that I wanted to play for the Globetrotters and now that I was done with college ball I knew I could actually somewhat pursue that dream in a way,” she said.
This desire to be her absolute best paid off eventually after a scout for the Harlem Globetrotters saw a few Instagram videos she posted of her showcasing her skills with her twin sister. Before she knew it, she was flown out to Atlanta, Georgia to sign a contract to play for them, finally reaching a huge personal milestone.
Mortimer completed three tours with the Globetrotters before leaving to begin her coaching career at Butler. She uses her unique player background and player mindset to relate with her players and be the best coach she can be.
Although she already has plenty of accolades under her belt, Mortimer is still striving towards her ultimate goal of coaching at the Division I and professional level.
“I will always be a part of this sport forever in some aspect,” Mortimer said. “This is how I want to spend the rest of my life– on the hardwood with a ball and a hoop. I’m a basketball person, period.”