LANCASTER COUNTY, Pa. — With work, school and athletics, most families don’t get to spend a lot of time together, however, this a special season for the Hahn's at Manheim Central High School.
They get to share a unique bond over one sport, football.
It’s a game that has brought and kept the Hahn's close and this season, they’re on the sidelines, together, one final time.
“It’s basically our whole lives, with dad coaching all the time," said Gabrielle Hahn, Manheim Central's athletic trainer. "It’s something that’s always been our second family. Even when we were little, we were in the weight room all the time with the older guys. They were apart of our family so football has just completely taken over.”
Dave Hahn is in his 29th seasoning coaching at Manheim Central. He was named the head coach in 2015, but it’s not just on the field his kids were able to see him.
He was also one of their teachers.
“Teaching where your kids are at is pretty special," said Dave Hahn, Manheim Central's head football coach and high school teacher. "All three of my kids I’ve been able to teach at all various levels. My older two, I taught at the elementary level, then had them again at the high school and the youngest one, I’ve had here at the high school.”
Not just getting the opportunity to teach his kids, but also getting to coach. For the last two seasons, Dave’s son Zac has been the starting quarterback for the Barons football team.
“Obviously, there’s ups and downs to every experience. It’s started off as a tricky dynamic but we quickly figured out how to make it work and this year and last year has been a great time for us," said Zac Hahn.
“When it comes to games, I hear that Zac and I are pretty comical. We get after each other," Dave added. "I’ll get after him and he’s starting to get to that point of being able to come back at me, and sometimes he’s right. Although, I don’t like to admit that. Most of the time he’s wrong and I’m right.”
There’s one more Hahn to add to the mix. Gabrielle worked under Penn State University head coach, James Franklin as an athletic training student in University Park, before getting her Masters at East Stroudsburg University. When she graduated from ESU, she jumped on the opportunity to apply at her Alma Mater.
“It’s really cool to see Zac and his friends grow up and finish out their high school careers because I missed a lot of it growing up and being away at school. It has made my first job so easy, being able to come back to a community I already know and have been involved with since I was young," Gabrielle explained.
“Just that reassurance of having a sister but she’s also going to look out for me and all my teammates, to make sure we can play each week. It’s a big help," said Zac.
As the Barons continue to try and make a deep run in the playoffs, the Hahn family is cherishing their final season together.
The football program has always been their second family. They hope that continues, for not just them, but other families for years to come.
“I was afforded a lot, as an assistant coach, to bring my kids up through the program," said Dave. "Mike Williams, before me, his son played for him. His grandson’s were apart of the program while he was an assistant coach. His grandson’s grew up in the program, being managers. My son has grown up being a manager, my daughter was a student trainer, back in high school and I tell my coaches now, We’re away from the house a lot. Bring your wives around, bring your kids around. Have them be part of the program, so they feel included, too and hopefully that fosters things for the future.”
The Hahn's are one of many families keeping the family culture at the home of the Barons.
This is their third and final season sharing the sidelines together as Zac will graduate from Manheim Central in the spring.