Dutchess Community College Head Coach Al Hammell brings a multitude of baseball playing and coaching experience from all levels of the game to the DCC baseball program.
A former catcher, Hammell is a 1989 graduate of Our Lady of Lourdes High School. He played collegiately at LeMoyne College and was selected by the New York Mets in the 28th round of the 1992 Major League Draft after his Junior season. Hammell went on to spend five years in the Mets organization reaching as high as the AAA level.
Coach Hammell spent four years as the top assistant at D1 Marist College while he was completing his Masters Degree in Public Administration and obtaining his NYS Elementary Education Certification. After two years of experience back in professional baseball working with the Angels organization as an area scout, Hammell began his teaching career in the Millbrook Central School District in 2003. He then went on to spend 9 years coaching baseball at the high school level- 3 years as the Head Coach at Millbrook High School and 6 years as the Head Coach at Arlington High School. In his nine years ('06-'14) at the high school level, Hammell led his teams to Five Sectional Championships (three at Millbrook '06, '07, '08; and two at Arlington '12, '13). Both programs also competed in the NYS Final Four Championships in Binghampton, NY. It was Milbrook's first ever Final Four appearance and Arlington's first Final Four appearance in over 25 years. In 2006, Hammell was named New York State Coach of the Year in Class C. He has also shown proven success in moving many players on to play at the D1, D2, and D3 collegiate levels.
Currently, Hammell is beginning his 13th year as an elementary education teacher in the Millbrook Central School District.
Hammell also oversees the Young Falcons and Dutchess Aces Youth Instructional Baseball programs, and serves as the Head Coach of the 17u Taconic Rangers College Showcase Travel Team during the summer months. Coach Hammell resides in his hometown of Pleasant Valley with his wife Stacey, and his three children, Tyler 15, Morgan 12, and Allie 11.
