Sad news to report out of the fastpitch softball world as Price Hansen, who founded USA Preps producing events across the Western United States—from Nevada to California to Hawaii— and coaching at the travel ball level, passed away on Thursday (August 14) of this week from natural causes.

This is a statement the Hansen family that was released and sent to Line Drive to share with the softball community:

It is with heavy hearts that we share the news of the passing of Price Hansen, who started USA Preps over 13 years ago with a passion for recruiting and a dream of helping as many young athletes play at the next level as possible.

He has built relationships with so many of the club coaches, college coaches, players and parents who have attended our events through the years, and we know losing him will leave a hole in the softball community that can never be replaced.

Price’s legacy will live on through USA Preps. We, along with his family, will continue to honor him by helping players live out their dreams of playing in college.

Thank you to everyone for your love and support through this difficult time.

Here is a short YouTube video that features Price at the very beginning and the work he has done to help youth athletes advance in softball through recruiting events:

Price’s bio on the home site of USA Preps and Preps Academy gives the following background on his history in softball.

Price Hansen is the founder of Preps Academy and the highly successful tournament organization USA Preps.

Coach Hansen founded USA Preps in 2011 after being involved in baseball with his sons for over two decades.

Through baseball and the recruiting process with his son Taylor he realized his passion was to see all players have the opportunity to succeed at the next level. It became his mission to bring quality camps and tournaments where ALL softball players have access to college coaches at every level of the game.

Just celebrating 10 years and over 90,000 players helped in their recruiting process, USA Preps has become a reality of Coach Hansen’s dream.

Although he has been more than successful in helping players get recruited through the USA Preps events, Coach Hansen is also a dedicated coach who knows how to form winning teams.

In 2016 Price created Preps Academy (formerly Easton Preps) with the goal of creating teams of talented players “who may get overlooked.”

“I just want to provide these players with an opportunity they haven’t had,” Coach Hansen said in a 2018 interview for SoftballAmerica.com

After just two years of starting his team, all players on Preps Academy – Hansen were verbally committed to playing softball at the next level. Since then, over 100 players in the Preps organization have committed to play collegiate softball.

In 2018 Coach Hansen’s 16U Elite team earned a Premier berth to PGF Nationals and climbed the brackets to a Top 7 finish. The same team returned to the 16U PGF Premier Nationals with Coach Hansen in 2019.

Coach Price’s teams have been made up of players from all over North America, including California, Canada, Florida, Hawaii, Montana, Nevada, and Texas, while teams have worn the Preps Academy name from California to Hawaii and Nevada.

Price’s passion for softball doesn’t stop at just helping players. He has also helped multiple club coaches by coaching alongside them, marketing their team’s players to his college coach contacts, and holding private workouts at all USA Preps events to give the teams in the organization extra exposure.

Most recently, Coach Hansen relocated from California to Las Vegas, Nevada, and quickly established a new home for Preps Academy, partnering with Prime-Time Batting Cages. He is excited to see the organization grow and the Preps family continue to help all players.

Along with helping run USA Preps, Price was a co-head coach along with Mike Crowder of the Preps Academy 16U team

Amanda Leichtweisz, the Director of Operations for USA Preps and a longtime friend, wrote the following shortly after learning of his passing:

To Our USA Preps Family: It is with heavy hearts that we share the news of the passing of Price Hansen, founder of USA Preps.

Price started USA Preps over 13 years ago with a passion for recruiting and a dream of helping as many young athletes play at the next level as possible.

He has built relationships with so many of the club coaches, college coaches, players and parents who have attended our events throughout the years and we know losing him will leave a hole in the softball community that can never be replaced.

Price’s legacy will live on through USA Preps. We, along with his family, will continue to honor him by helping players live out their dreams of playing in college. Thank you to everyone for the love and support through this difficult time.

Mike West, head of Team Sales and a college coach liaison at USA Preps, shared his thoughts via social media also:

14 years ago I answered a Craigslist add. Little did I know I was going to work for a man that would change my life.

Over that time Price became more than an employer, he became family. If you knew Price you know family was everything to him. It wasn’t about if you were blood; it was about F.A.M.I.L.Y. (Forget About Me I Love You).

This was Price. He helped mold me into the person I am today. He was always there for advice or when things got tough. He never sugar-coasted anything and always gave the best advice he had. I owe a lot to him.

Today I woke up knowing I have to continue this without him. The world lost a great father/son/brother/friend/human being last night.

RIP Price. I love you brother. Until we meet again. Please continue to watch over us all as you always have and continue to help and guide us. We will continue your legacy down here.

Many in the softball world have offered their thoughts and condolences – from players to parents to coaches.

Typical of the positive comments received was this one from Sean Brashear, a travel ball coach in the Firecrackers organization:

“Price was a one of a kind personality and he made an indelible impression on everyone he met!”

“We as a softball community will miss his passion for making our sport better for everyone.” 

“Personally I will miss Price and his friendship as will many other of his friends. My condolences to all of his family, friends and staff.”

“RIP Price.”

Love, Sean Brashear

Charlie Kennedy, the Head Softball Coach at Avila University in Kansas City, shared his photo taken with Price:

Here is a sampling of others who have shared their sentiments through social media:

Sad to have landed and get news that Price Hansen head of USA Preps has passed. Price was a good guy and his group have done some really good things for athletes through the years in the education and exposure front. #USAPreps

— Lee Dobbins (@CoachDobbinsSCD) August 15, 2025

Price!! You did it your way!! @USAPreps @EastonPreps Rest Easy man!! Appreciate all you did on my 🥎🥎🥎 #Journey with @jadynkiyoko3 Will miss the VIP mixers in #Vegas and #Palmdale Glad I got to fly Your Colors!!! 🤙🏾🤙🏾🤙🏾 @NateTompkins 🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾 pic.twitter.com/GP7Nqdw69u

— JON NIELSEN (@JNIEL8) August 15, 2025

Line Drive will have more on Price’s notable softball accomplishments in the future and extend our condolences to all those he touched in his life, from his family to everyone in the softball community who benefited from his love of the game and the people associated with it.

Brentt Eads/Line Drive Softball