Bucknell University Athletics
Bison Men's Tennis Coach Bob Hammerlee Resigns
6/28/2002 8:00:00 AM | Men's Tennis
June 28, 2002
LEWISBURG, Pa. - Bob Hammerlee, head coach of the Bucknell men's tennis program for the past 10 years, has resigned from his position at the helm of the Bison program. A teaching professional with more than two decades of experience, Hammerlee, a member of the United States Professional Tennis Association, plans to pursue a full-time teaching career in group and private lessons.
"Bob Hammerlee for the past decade has been a true asset to our men's tennis program and Bison Athletics," said John Hardt, director of athletics and recreation. "We will certainly miss his personality and his tennis expertise, but he has left the program in good shape and we are excited for the future of Bucknell Tennis."
Hammerlee will be replaced by Rebecca Helt, who has coached the Bison women's tennis team for the past five years. Helt, along with new assistant coach Sean Monaghan, will coach both the men's and women's teams, marking the first time in school history both programs fall under the guidance of one head coach.
"I really have enjoyed my 10 years as head coach at Bucknell, and certainly will miss a lot after I leave here," commented Hammerlee. "Coaching is an enjoyable and fulfilling occupation, and I am pleased -- although never satisfied -- with the amount of success I've had here at Bucknell. However, my first love is, and always will be, passing along my love of tennis to others who are hungry to learn the "sport for a lifetime". Private and group lessons will now occupy my time, and I am very excited for the days ahead."
Under Hammerlee's direction, the Bison men's program has risen steadily, both in the quality of competition and in the results. This steady improvement was recognized following the 1997 spring season, when Hammerlee was voted the 1997 Patriot League Coach-of-the-Year by his fellow league coaches. Hammerlee's 1997 Coach-of-the-Year award came on the heels of back-to-back 14-win seasons in Lewisburg (14-8 in 1997 and 14-7 in 1996). The 14 victories in the 1996 and 1997 seasons, at the time, tied the school record for the most wins in a single season.
One year after his award-winning season, Hammerlee's team posted a Bucknell record setting 19-2 mark, setting a school and Patriot League standard for wins in a season (19) and consecutive match victories (15). The records crumbled with a 6-1 decision over Fairfield on April 11, 1998. That victory gave Bucknell its 15th-straight win of the campaign, setting two new records - total wins in a season and the longest single-season win streak.
This past season, the Orange and Blue posted a 14-6 overall record, the best for the team since the record setting season in 1998.
In his 10 seasons since taking over the Bucknell men's tennis program, Hammerlee's teams have gone 112-84. In the five years prior to 2000, the Bison were an impressive 70-35 under his direction, reaching double figure victories in each season. His teams equaled or bettered their win total for the first six seasons, winning six matches in 1993 and 1994, 12 matches in 1995 and 14 in the 1996 and 1997 before the record-setting 19 victories in 1998.
Hammerlee leaves Bucknell as the fourth all-time winningest coach in Bucknell's men's tennis history, trailing longtime BU coaches Craig Reynolds (172 wins in 23 seasons), Hank Peters (156 wins in 23 seasons), and Floyd Ballentine (113 wins in 20 seasons). Hammerlee is the holder of two Coach-of-the-Year awards (one from the Patriot League and the other from The Bucknellian) in his 10 seasons at Bucknell.
A native of Franklin, Pa., Hammerlee spent several years as a teaching professional at the Claremont Country Club in Oakland, Calif., before arriving at Bucknell in 1991. He served as an assistant coach that year under Reynolds, and was promoted to head coach prior to the 1992-93 season
