Media Day at Lely

There has been an unmistakable change in culture at Lely High School. Saturday morning's Media Day in Trojan Gym was a showcase for the new football program and the people who are making things happen. Team and individual photographs were taken. Players were treated to a wildly popular 360-degree photo booth. Anticipation filled the air.

Of course, the maestro is new head coach Ben Hammer, who was hired in April to take over a program that finished strong last year, reaching the playoffs under outgoing coach J.J. Everage. The Trojans finished 6-5. Everage left to become the first head coach at the new Aubrey Rogers High School in North Naples.

Hammer deflected attention from himself on Media Day.

“Our assistants and support staff,” Ben Hammer said, “coaches, managers, etcetera, they deserve recognition.”

The Trojans’ 2023 team picture tells a story of organization and discipline. It’s a picture of a team that has totally bought into the new regime’s plan.  

Hammer took great pains to carefully place each player for the team picture. Same thing with his assistants and support staff.

"I’m not big on media day,” Hammer said, "but the kids enjoy it. They handled it well and we still got some work done on the field. They are excited to compete.”

Hammer’s Trojans turned some heads the first time they competed, downing a strong Estero program, 28-27, in their Spring game. The new staff had only been on the job for about a month.

“First getting here,” said Ross Baker, offensive coordinator, "everything happened quick. We got here April 1 and we were at school on Monday, and spring practice started a week later. It was literally a blur, like sprinting, with no time off. Doing everything you can to try and build relationships and get to know the kids. Figuring out who those kids are. Walking the hallways. 'Hey, come play football.' Just kind of selling that.”

Baker said the Trojans will have a new look on offense this season.

"We're playing a little faster offensively,” Baker said, "to try and make it a little more exciting, more fun for fans, more fun for the players." 

Baker knew right away that the new coaching staff had material to work with.

“I knew there was talent,” Baker said flatly. "Definitely excited about the opportunity. The support that we have from the school and the administration and academic side of things has exceeded my expectations. It’s been great. Kids have bought into everything that we're trying to do. We’re teaching them the whys behind why we're doing certain things.”

Strength coach Zach Greenwood is ecstatic about the Trojans’ upgraded weight room.

"I would say when I first got here,” Greenwood said, "the weight room was, I would say a five out of ten. It was functional. You could use it. It wasn't as efficient. I want my kids to be able to get in and out of here and waste as little time as possible but still get the appropriate amount of training, whether that be in season or out of season. And now I would say we are one of the better weight rooms in the district.”

Greenwood said things changed immediately when Hammer arrived in April.

"Hammer walked in and set a standard,” Greenwood said. "And that standard has been thoroughly followed and the kids are buying into the standard. And that standard gets greater and greater every day. They get a little bit better each day.”

Beth Colman, a longtime school counselor at Lely, is part of Hammer’s support staff.  She has seen an incredible academic improvement in the team.

"I'm mainly in charge of academics,” Colman said. "and in previous years we've had around 16 ineligible players. And right now we have one student that cannot play because of academics."

Running backs coach Jermaine Washington brings an extensive Collier County coaching and playing resume to the Trojans coaching staff, with previous stops at St. John Neumann, Naples High, Palmetto Ridge, and Gulf Coast. He grew up in Naples Manor and is happy to be living and coaching in the neighborhood he grew up in.

“Me being born and raised in the area helps out a lot,” Washington said, "because I go to the bowling alley, I go to a lot of local places and people tell me information that helps me out. So it's just a big thing, talking to the community.”

Another new hire for Hammer is Winder Toussaint, a former player at Lely. Toussaint, who coaches the star backs, can feel the change in the players.

"I feel like they're more excited,” Toussaint said. "They're just more excited to come to school, play football. Just to be a part of the culture. They see everything is changing and they just want to be part of the change for the Lely football program. They just want to be a part of the new program and everything that comes with it. Coach Hammer is actually putting the excitement back in the Lely community. I feel like everyone is just more excited to be around football. They're just happy.”