Bert Hammel

Bert Hammel was an American college basketball coach for Merrimack College and a NBA scout for the Milwaukee Bucks.^[1]

Hammel attended Bentley University in 1969. He was a 3 year starter for the Falcons where he still ranks among the leaders in scoring and rebounding. He was later inducted into the Bentley Athletics Hall of Fame in 1990.^[2]

After graduating from Bentley Hammel became an assistant coach for Merrimack college in 1974. During this time Hammel got to learn the ropes from Warriors head coach Frank Monahan.^[1] In 1979 Hammel decided to leave the Warriors to become a scout for the Milwaukee Bucks of the NBA. After one year of being a scout in the nba the head coaching job at Merrimack had opened up. So Hammel left the Bucks and returned to the Warriors now as the head man in charge. Hammel would see little success in his first four seasons. But during the 1984-85 there would be big changes for Hammel and the warriors as they would join the Northeast 10 conference. Hammel would lead the warriors to the NE10 semifinals in their first year in the league then finishing as runners up the following year. Following this the warriors would decline for the next 2 season. But then during the 1988-89 season Hammel would see his first truly great season. As the warriors would go 22-9 and be invited to the ECAC metro tournament. They would beat New York tech 102-78 in the semifinals. Before eventually beating Long Island-C.W. Post 98-85 to win the first championship in program history. Hammel would then hit a nice stretch in the early 90s. Bringing merrimack to their first NCAA tournament appearance in a decade in 1991 going 21-9. They would lose to Franklin pierce in the first round. Hammel would one up this the following year going as he would lead the warriors to their first conference championship. As the 6 seed the warriors would run the gauntlet beating AIC and Assumption in the quarter and semifinals. They would then beat St Anselm 92-77 in the championship game. Punching their ticket to the NCAA tournament for the second year in a row. After a declining for a few years. Hammel would win back to back ECAC tournaments in 1998 and 1999. He would then arguably have the best season of his career after in 1999-2000. Going 22-9 overall and 13-5 in conference securing the first regular season title in program history. He and the warriors would stop their though as they would go on to beat AIC 84-78 to win their second NE10. Making Hammels 3rd appearance In the 2000 NCAA tournament tournament. The warriors would win in the first round beat Saint Rose 92-64 before eventually losing to Adelphi in the second round. Hammel would then lead the warriors to 3 straight NCAA tournament appearances from 2008-2010. The furthest they would it was the round of 32. He ultimately retired after the 2015-2016 season and was replaced by Joe Gallo.^[3] Hammels run with the warriors lasted 36 seasons. He is the all time wins leader in Merrimack basketball history with 526 wins.

Hammel and his wife Jill would have 3 children together.

Bert Hammel died on October, 6, 2018.^[4] Hammel made great contributions not just to Merrimack college but to the local basketball community as a whole. As he also played a part in the Lawrence Boys and Girls Club where he hosted numerous basketball camps. On top of this he would also establish the Academic Basketball Awareness (ABA) camp for the Boys Club kids who would not otherwise have the means to attend such as program. He was honored by Merrimack college when they changed the name of their basketball gym to Hammel court after his passing.^[5]