BJ Hammer was named the 34th head coach in Allegheny football program history on January 4, 2016.
After posting a 1-9 mark in his first season at Allegheny in 2016, the program's rebuilding took big strides in 2017, as the Gators finished 3-7 while posting prolific numbers on both sides of the ball. Offensively, Allegheny averaged 34.0 points and 449.6 yards per game, both of which were the Gators' most since 2002. Sophomore Alex Victor earned First Team All-NCAC honors after setting school records for receiving yards (1,037) and touchdowns (15), while Tyler Balla became the first Gator running back to earn All-NCAC laurels after rushing for 955 yards and 10 touchdowns. Quarterback Logan Lee also had a record-breaking season, setting new Gator single-season marks in nearly every passing category, including completions (214), yards (3,002), and touchdowns (33).
The 2017 Gator defense also saw a pair of All-NCAC recipients. Defensive end Colten Buzard set a new Allegheny single-season mark with 20.5 tackles for loss, while tying a 17-year old school record with 12.0 sacks. Defensive back Chase Balla became the first Gator rookie to earn All-NCAC honors since 2013, as he finished with a team-best 73 tackles while breaking up five passes.
In his first season at the helm, Hammer saw a pair of his players earn All-NCAC honors, including senior John McFarland and junior Jake Wilson. McFarland ended his career as one of the most prolific tight ends in program history, and hauled in 48 catches for 552 yards. Wilson established an NCAA Division III record with 1,268 kick return yards, averaging 24.5 yards per try, and breaking off five returns of 50 yards or longer. As a team, the Gator offense saw an increase of an average of 9.0 points and 83 yards per game from the 2015 season, while the team's pass defense ranked in the top five of the NCAC.
Hammer arrived at Allegheny after spending five seasons as the defensive coordinator at fellow North Coast Athletic Conference member Wabash College. There, he led a defensive unit that consistently ranked among NCAA Division-III’s best. During his five-year tenure, the Little Giants posted a record of 51-7, making three appearances in the NCAA Division-III playoffs and winning NCAC championships in 2011 and 2015. He mentored the NCAC Defensive Player of the Year in four of his five seasons as defensive coordinator, while 22 Wabash defenders were First Team All-NCAC honorees, and four were named All-America.
In 2015, the Little Giants finished 12-1, including a perfect 8-0 in the NCAC, and advanced to the third round of the NCAA playoffs. Hammer’s defense ranked third nationally with 26 interceptions, fourth in rushing defense (72.2 yds/g), fifth in total defense (240.9 yds/g), and seventh in quarterback sacks (42). Eight Little Giant defenders earned All-NCAC honors, including six First Team selections, highlighted by defensive tackle Tyler McCullen, who was named the NCAC Defensive Player of the Year and a D3Football.com All-American. Wabash ended the year ranked seventh in both the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) and D3Football.com Top 25 polls.
In 2014, Hammer was named a Division-III Coordinator of the Year finalist after his unit led Division-III in rushing defense (66.3 yds/g) and quarterback sacks (4.6 sacks/g), while ranking third in total defense, fifth in tackles for loss, and 12th in scoring defense. Little Giant linebacker Cody Buresh was named the NCAC Defensive Player of the Year and All-America by both D3Football.com and the AFCA.
The 2013 Wabash defense led the nation in total defense (220.7 yds/g), fumbles recovered (19), and turnover margin (+24), while placing second in tackles for loss (11.6 TFL/g) and rushing defense (63.1). In 2012, the Little Giants placed eighth nationally in scoring defense and 10th in rushing defense, while linebacker CJ Gum earned the NCAC Defensive Player of the Year award for a second straight season.
In his first season as the Wabash defensive coordinator, the Little Giants ranked fifth in the nation in rushing defense (78.1 yds/g), 11th in scoring defense (12.9 pts/g), and 12th in total defense (249.4 yds/g), while they paced the NCAC in every defensive statistical category. In addition to Gum being named the conference’s top defender, linebacker AJ Akinribade was named NCAC Newcomer of the Year.
Prior to his five-year tenure at Wabash, Hammer spent eight seasons on the football staff at Whittier College. After working as the Poets’ defensive coordinator from 2003-05, Hammer was promoted to head coach, a position he held from 2006-10. Posting a 12-33 overall record, Hammer rebuilt a program that had just 13 players on its roster in 2003 to one that averaged a roster size of over 100. Thirty Whittier players were named All-Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC), while the Whitter defense ranked second in the conference in total defense in 2006, and its rushing offense ranked second in the SCIAC in both 2009 and 2010.
Before his stint in California, Hammer spent the 2002 season as the linebackers coach at Heidelberg College, after beginning his coaching career in 2001 as the outside linebackers coach at Wabash.
Hammer graduated from Wabash in 2001, and is regarded as one of the top defenders to ever suit up for the Little Giants. He graduated as the school’s record holder for tackles for loss in a game (five), season (23), and career (58), as well as single-season sacks (15), while he is tied with younger brother Blair as the Little Giants’ all-time record holder in career sacks with 27.5. Team captain in 2000, Hammer was a two-time All-American and three-time All-Conference honoree, and was named the 2001 Pete Vaughn Award, which is given annually to the top Wabash senior athlete as voted upon by the athletic department.
A native of Carmel, Indiana, Hammer and wife Emily are the parents of daughters Layla and Ellie, and son William.
