Richard Hammond will head up the Santa Clara football
program
Even though he is just 25, Richard Hammond isn’t about to let that stop him from coaching the sport he’s always loved.
Hammond, a former Haybaler football player and coach, is taking over as the head coach for Santa Clara High School.
He was one of the finalists out of a field of seven candidates for the job.
“We were very impressed with the preparation he did,” said Santa Clara Principal Brad Syth. “He was very well respected by the teams he coached with down south. As a former football coach myself, I am impressed with his coaching credentials. He is highly recommended as a teacher also. His age is irrelevant.”
Although Santa Clara High School was established in 1872, the school doesn’t have much of a history of postseason play. The Bruins are 2-6 in their Central Coast Section appearances.
Going to a school about half the size as San Benito and Gilroy has been a big adjustment. Hammond’s first task has been establishing an offseason workout similar to those used by teams in the Tri-County Athletic League.
“There is definitely a different emphasis placed on football here than there is in the Tri-County area,” Hammond said. “There is a lot of building that needs to take place. It is a different set of athletes.”
Last year while coaching at Gilroy High, Hammond helped establish some of the offseason training and lifting programs. He credits being in the right place at the right time to his football knowledge.
“Chris Cameron and Tod Thatcher invited me to come out and coach soon after I got out of high school,” Hammond said. “I was fortunate to learn a lot from those guys who knew how to run an established program. I was able to learn things right the first time.”
Although no one can say for sure, Hammond is believed to be the youngest head football coach in the area. Joe Cattolico, who is now at Independence High, won a CCS Division II title with Overfelt in 1998 while he was in his early 20’s.
“He is probably one of the youngest football coaches in the section,” Cameron said. “I don’t know anyone younger than Rich.”
What Hammond lacks with years of experience, he make up in his dedication and commitment. He said he has been able to earn respect from his players during the summer training because of the successful teams he has been on and has coached.
“It is nice coaching while being young because I can still get out there and connect with the kids,” Hammond said. “I still have the energy and don’t have any of the attachments that go along with being older. I don’t have a lot of experience, but I have really good experience.”
In his playing days at San Benito, he was the defensive player of the year at the starting strong safety spot even though he stands at 5-foot-6. Hammond was also a scholar athlete. The Balers made it to the CCS semifinals all three years in which he was playing.
During the four years coaching, Hammond primarily worked with defenses. He was the defensive coordinator at Gilroy High and coached defensive backs, wide receivers and special team at San Benito.
“I think defense wins championships, and you have to put a priority on defense,” Hammond said. “We’re going to work hard as a group to outwork and outplay everyone we face.”
Running the offense for Santa Clara is Tony Gianotti, another young coach who coached at Gavilan last year.
Gilroy coach Darren Yafai has known Hammond for a long time. Yafai coached Hammond in freshman football and freshman baseball at San Benito High.
“For me its bitter sweet,” Yafai said. “We’re sad to see him go because he was one of the major reasons for any success we had last year. He has got an incredible football mind. I’ve never met a coach at 25 who is as knowledgeable and as skilled of a coach as he is. He’s a football freak.”
“I was worried all spring that he would land a head coaching job,” Yafai added. “It will leave a big hole in our football program. But I am happy for him and have no doubt that he will be successful.”
After attending Cabrillo College, Hammond transferred to San Jose State, where he obtained an Industrial Engineering degree. While he was attending San Jose State, he coached at San Benito High.
Hammond’s days are long. He teaches math at Gilroy High then in the afternoon heads over to Santa Clara to coach his football team.
“As a coach, he was very much like how he was as a player,” Cameron said. “He was very hard working and was willing to do whatever it took to get the job done. Right now he is miles ahead of where I was at his age. It’s going to take him awhile to find the parking lot because he will have a zillion things on his mind – things he’s never dealt with before.”
