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Coaching Staff - Baseball
Associate Head Coach Dan Hammer
Dan Hammer finished his 16th season at the University of Delaware as an assistant coach with the baseball program in 2012 and his eighth as associate head coach for head coach Jim Sherman.
Hammer spent his first four years as a Blue Hen assistant under the leadership of legendary Blue Hen skipper Bob Hannah. He will begin his 13th season as the program's top assistant in 2013 and is involved in all aspects of the program, including recruiting and serving as both the infield and hitting coach. He also serves as co-director of the Blue Hen Baseball Camps conducted at the University of Delaware during the summers.
In 2003, Hammer was selected as an AFLAC National Assistant Coach of the Year Award recipient by a panel of judges from Scholastic Coach and Athletic Director Magazine. This award recognizes those coaches based on longevity, expertise, contributions to the school and community and special achievements throughout their careers.
Hammer has played an important part in the program's success since joining the staff in 1997. Delaware has posted a combined record of 518-364 (.587) since his arrival, winning four consecutive America East Conference titles and making four NCAA Regional Tournament appearances from 1998-2001. He has helped lead 13 teams to winning records, including 10 that have won 30 or more games.
In past seasons, the program has made a jump into the top-50 in the NCAA Division I RPI (Rated Percentage Index). In 2002, the program's first in the Colonial Athletic Association (CAA), the Blue Hens finished the season with a record of 35-22, finishing with an RPI ranking of 45th in the country. In 2001, the team posted a record of 45-15 and advanced to the Columbus, Ohio Regional Tournament, finishing with an RPI ranking of 32nd in the country.
Regarded as one of the region's top infield instructors, Hammer has had several of his infielders drafted into professional baseball. In 2006, Delaware was among the top offensive teams in NCAA Division I, ranking No. 1 nationally in home runs/game, doubles/game, and slugging percentage. The team hit a school record 111 round-trippers along with 143 doubles. The 2007 team finished 32-23 and made its second CAA Championship game appearance in four seasons while the 2012 squad went 31-27 and also advanced to the CAA title game.
In all, 21 Blue Hens have gone on to play professionally during Hammer's 16 seasons as an assistant at Delaware, including former major league outfielders Reid Gorecki and Kevin Mench and current minor league players Carlos Alonso (Philadelphia), Alex Buccholz (Texas), Ryan Cuneo (Chicago Cubs), and Mike McGuire (Independent). In addition, former UD catcher John Schneider is an assistant coach at the rookie level in the Toronto organization.
A 1996 graduate of the University of Delaware with a bachelor of science degree in engineering technology and technical management, Hammer was a four-year letterwinning infielder for the Blue Hens.
He captained both the 1995 and 1996 squads and ranked in the top 10 all-time in several offensive categories upon his graduation, including games played (203), at-bats (717), runs scored (217), hits (258), doubles (62), total bases (412) and walks (144). He also finished his career as a Blue Hen with 26 home runs, a .360 overall batting average and a career on-base percentage of .536.
In 1996, Hammer was selected as the All-Tournament shortstop at the NCAA Midwest Regional Tournament at Wichita State University after hitting .625 with two home runs and eight RBI in two games.
Hammer is a native of North East, Md., and graduated from North East High School in 1987.
His wife, Jenni, is a 1990 graduate of North East High School and a 1994 graduate of West Chester University, where she earned her degree in elementary education. In 2000, she earned a master's degree in educational administration from Loyola College of Maryland. She is presently employed as an Elementary School Principal for Cecil County Public Schools in Cecil County, Md.
The couple resides in Elkton, Md., with their son, Luke, and daughter, Katy.
Updated 8/2/12
Head Coach Jim Sherman
Associate Head Coach Dan Hammer
Pitching Coach Brian Walker
Assistant Coach Mel Bacon
Dan Hammer's Coaching Career at Delaware
| Year |
Position |
Record |
America East/CAA |
Highlights |
| 1997 |
Assistant |
45-10 |
19-3 (1st) |
America East Tournament |
| 1998 |
Assistant |
43-10 |
22-3 (1st) |
America
East Champions
NCAA
Regionals |
| 1999 |
Assistant |
35-25 |
19-9 (2nd) |
America
East Champions
NCAA
Regionals |
| 2000 |
Assistant |
37-20 |
19-5 (1st) |
America
East Champions
NCAA
Regionals |
| 2001 |
Assistant |
45-15 |
22-6 (1st) |
America
East Champions
NCAA
Regionals |
| 2002 |
Assistant |
35-22 |
12-7 (4th) |
CAA
Tournament |
| 2003 |
Assistant |
21-32 |
7-13 (4th) |
- |
| 2004 |
Assistant |
33-24 |
12-11 (6th) |
CAA
Tournament
Runner-up |
| 2005 |
Assistant |
27-31 |
13-11 (5th) |
CAA Tournament |
| 2006 |
Associate HC |
30-24 |
12-18 (7th) |
- |
| 2007 |
Associate HC |
32-23 |
18-11 (1st) |
CAA Tournament Runner-up |
| 2008 |
Associate HC |
22-31 |
11-17 (9th) |
- |
| 2009 |
Associate HC |
28-20 |
11-10 (6th) |
CAA Tournament |
| 2010 |
Associate HC |
27-24 |
9-15 (10th) |
- |
| 2011 |
Associate HC |
27-26 |
16-14 (5th) |
- |
| 2012 |
Associate HC |
31-27 |
17-13 (3rd) |
CAA Tournament Runner-up |
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