Curtis J. Hammeke is an American university sports administrator and former college baseball player and coach. Hammeke is currently the director of athletics at Fort Hays State University. Prior to his current position, Hammeke served as an athletic director at a high school and two colleges, as well as the baseball coach for Fort Hays State prior to that.

Curtis Hammeke
Current position
TitleAthletic director
TeamFort Hays State
ConferenceThe MIAA
Annual salary$113,774[1]
Biographical details
BornGreat Bend, Kansas
Playing career
1981–1982Barton CC
1983–1984Fort Hays State
Position(s)Pitcher
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
1987–1991Barton CC (assistant)
1991–1996Fort Hays State
Administrative career (AD unless noted)
1987–1991Barton CC (media relations)
1991–1996Fort Hays State (assistant AD)
1996–1998Great Bend HS
1998–2003Butler CC
2003–2004Newman (Kansas)
2004–presentFort Hays State
Head coaching record
Overall164–81 (.669)
Accomplishments and honors
Championships
RMAC regular season championship (1995)
RMAC Tournament championship (1995)
Awards
1 Louisville Slugger Coach of the Year (1995)
RMAC Coach of the Year (1995)

Career

edit

Early career

edit

Hammeke, a Great Bend, Kansas native, played baseball for Barton Community College from 1981 to 1982, and finished his collegiate baseball career at Fort Hays State University from 1983 to 1984.[2] Two years after graduating from Fort Hays State, Hammeke began his career in athletics in 1987 as the Barton Cougars baseball assistant coach and Sports Information Director.[3]

Fort Hays State University

edit

In 1992, Hammeke was hired as the head coach at his alma mater, Fort Hays State Tigers baseball, as well as an assistant athletic director. During his five seasons as the head coach, Hammeke led the Tigers to an overall record of 164–81 (.669), winning the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference regular season and tournament championships in 1995.[4]

Three jobs in eight years

edit

Following a successful five seasons as a head coach, Hammeke became the Great Bend High School director of athletics, a position he held from 1996 to 1998.[5] In 1998, Hammeke left his Great Bend to become Butler Community College's director of athletics.[6] Hammeke was responsible for hiring the National Junior College Athletic Association winningest football coach, Troy Morrell, who won three out of seven national championship appearances, and 12 conference championships.[7] In 2003, Hammeke left Butler CC to become the athletics director at Newman University in Wichita, Kansas.[8]

Return to Fort Hays State as AD

edit

In May, 2004, Hammeke was named Fort Hays State University's athletics director.[9] During his time as the athletic director, Lewis Field Stadium has seen numerous renovations – including an artificial field – along with an indoor training facility.[10] Hammeke has hired several successful coaches at Fort Hays State including head Tiger football coach, Chris Brown, and head women's basketball coach, Tony Hobson.

Head coach record

edit
Statistics overview
Season Team Overall Conference Standing Postseason
Fort Hays State Tigers (Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference) (1992–1996)
1992 Fort Hays State 24–22
1993 Fort Hays State 34–12
1994 Fort Hays State 33–18
1995 Fort Hays State 34–13
1996 Fort Hays State 39–16
Fort Hays State: 164–81 (.669)
Total: 164–81 (.669)

      National champion         Postseason invitational champion  
      Conference regular season champion         Conference regular season and conference tournament champion
      Division regular season champion       Division regular season and conference tournament champion
      Conference tournament champion

References

edit
  1. ^ "Kansas Government Employee Payroll List". Kansasopengov.org. Archived from the original on April 16, 2019. Retrieved August 8, 2019.
  2. ^ "Barton Athletics to induct four into its Sports Hall of Fame - Barton Community College Athletics". bartonsports.com. Retrieved May 21, 2018.
  3. ^ "Curtis Hammeke to be Inducted into Barton Community College Sports Hall of Fame - Fort Hays State University". Fort Hays State University. Retrieved May 21, 2018.
  4. ^ Fort Hays State Tiger Baseball Records (PDF). May 31, 2017. Retrieved May 20, 2018.
  5. ^ "The Hays Daily News from Hays, Kansas on May 21, 2004 · Page 9". Retrieved May 21, 2018.
  6. ^ "Morrell inducted into Kansas Sports Hall of Fame - Butler Grizzlies". www.butlergrizzlies.com. Retrieved May 21, 2018.
  7. ^ "Head Coach - Butler Grizzlies". www.butlergrizzlies.com. Archived from the original on January 16, 2013. Retrieved May 21, 2018.
  8. ^ "The Salina Journal from Salina, Kansas on May 26, 2004 · Page 18". Retrieved May 21, 2018.
  9. ^ Fort Hays State University Media Relations (May 20, 2004). "Curtis Hammeke returns to FHSU to lead Athletic Department" (Press release). Archived from the original on May 2, 2018. Retrieved May 20, 2018.
  10. ^ "Lewis Field Stadium". fhsuathletics.com. Retrieved May 21, 2018.
edit