Dan Hammer

Dan Hammer begins his 26th season on the baseball coaching staff at the University of Delaware, including his 17th as associate head coach under Jim Sherman, in the 2022 season. Hammer was inducted into the University of Delaware Athletics Hall of Fame on Sept. 29, 2017.

Hammer spent his first four years as a Blue Hen assistant under the leadership of legendary Blue Hen skipper Bob Hannah. He will 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 2017 Hammer led one of the most potent offenses in school history, as the Blue Hens led the conference in average (.310), hits (613), runs (422), stolen bases (61), RBI (395), slugging percentage (.478) and on-base percentage (.408).

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 741-565 (.567) since his arrival, winning four consecutive America East Conference titles and making four NCAA Regional Tournament appearances from 1998-2001. He has helped lead 17 teams to winning records, including 13 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, 40 Blue Hens have gone on to play professionally during Hammer's 26 seasons as an assistant at Delaware, including former major league outfielders Reid Gorecki and Kevin Mench, current Pittsburgh Pirates MLB starter Chad Kuhl, and current minor league players Kyle Hinton (Kansas City Royals), Nick Patten (Pittsburgh Pirates), Chad Martin (New York Yankees), and Brandon Walter (Boston Red Sox).

Hammer is a 1996 graduate of the University of Delaware with a bachelor of science degree in engineering technology and technical management.

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.

Hammer earned the second team all-region honors by the American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA) in 1996 and was a first team all-league honoree in both 1993 and 1996. 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.