It’s Hammer Time at Lely

It’s Hammer Time at Lely High School as the Trojans have hired Ben Hammer, a winning coach from Rock Island, Illinois, as their new head coach. Hammer intends to build on the momentum JJ Everage was building at Lely before taking the head job at the new Aubrey Rogers high school in North Naples.

“Oh, man, I’m fired up,” Hammer said from his home in Illinois. "Ready to get down there. Ready for warmer weather. Ready to get rolling with the Lely community and especially the Lely football program.”

Hammer, who coached with popular former Lely head coach Chris Metzger, applied for the Lely job when it was open several years ago.

“I’ve got a ton of connections with Southwest Florida,” Hammer said. “The Lely jobs has always been an intriguing job for me. I applied when they hired coach Everage. I kind of kept in touch with athletic director Bill Mottola. It was a good fit and worked out this time.”

"Chris Metzger was the head coach at the last school I was an assistant at,” said Hammer. “Chris has done a great job everywhere he’s been. He’s one of my biggest mentors."

Metzger coached Lely from 2003-2006, compiling a 22-19 record, highlighted by 21-14 win over Naples in 2005 and a trip to the playoffs in 2004.

Hammer has also spent time coaching wrestling and baseball.

“We’re going to believe in the multi-sport athlete,” Hammer said. “We’re going to encourage the guys to play other sports. We’re going to recruit the other sports, try to convince them how special it is to be a part of a football program. I was a three-sport athlete all through high school. I think it’s great for all athletes to be well rounded.

"Our plan is to use the greatest game on earth, football, to teach kids life skills, and character, and have a bunch of fun while doing it. To be high energy and create a buzz with the other sports programs and be a part of the Lely community."

Hammer has a 28-24 record as a head coach, all at Rock Island. In 2019 Hammer led the Rocks to an 8-4 record, which included a playoff win. Hammer led the Rocks to four playoff appearances.

Hammer is looking forward to getting started at Lely.

“I’m hoping to be there by the first week of April,” Hammer said. "I have a few details I still need to iron out. I’ll 100 percent be there for spring football in May. We’re hoping to have most of the month of April as well.”

Hammer is a former lineman. He brings a lineman’s attitude to the job.

“I played offensive line in college,” he said. "Offensive and defensive line in high school. I think it helps a little bit in the selfless aspect of it. That’s something that is important to me as a head coach. I think the act of being a lineman is selfless." 

Hammer has a message to prospective players.

"I think our message to prospective players would be to come be a part of the Lely football program,” he said. "Because we’re going to help you become the best version of yourself. We’re going to work hard. We’re going to push the young people as hard as we possibly can to achieve the things they want to achieve. That’s going to be to have great academics, to have confidence from the weight room and performance program, and to have opportunities after high school. We feel like our program will set kids up for success the rest of their lives.”

“I’m super excited about all of the talent we’ll have on our roster and all of the talent we’ll face,” Hammer said. “I’ve done a lot with USA Football. I’m pretty familiar with all areas of the state."  

In 2021 Hammer was selected by the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) to their 35 under 35 Leadership Institute. Hammer was tabbed as one of 35 up and coming coaches to look out for. The AFCA 35 Under 35 Coaches Leadership Institute is a prestigious program aimed at identifying and developing premier, future leaders in the football coaching profession. 

"I was selected to that two years ago,” Hammer said. "It was a blessing. I got to meet a lot of people.”

Lely finished 6-5 last season, including a tough 21-7 loss to Dunbar, who advanced to the state’s Final Four.