Penn State Wilkes-Barre Mourns Loss of Assistant Basketball Coach Leroy Hammett

Story courtesy of Penn State Wilkes-Barre Athletics.

WILKES-BARRE, Pa. - We are deeply saddened to announce that the Penn State Wilkes-Barre athletic family has lost a member of its coaching staff this past week. Coach Leroy "Pops" Hammett passed away recently due to health complications resulting from the Coronavirus.

"Pops", as our student-athletes respectfully referred to him, was a volunteer member of the 2019 coaching staff which led our men's basketball team to the first ever USCAA National Championship in school history.

"'Pops' was very well respected on campus and challenged our student-athletes everyday," Athletic Director, Scott Miner said on Monday. "He treated everyone with respect but demanded discipline in the basketball program. Our student-athletes looked up to him and listened closely when he spoke. A true gentleman and terrific role model to everyone.

Leroy is the father of Head Coach LeShawn Hammett, spending nine seasons assisting LeShawn coaching his teams, including four seasons at Cecil College in Maryland, and five seasons at Penn State Wilkes-Barre.

"'Pops' always expressed to me the things that were most important to him, his faith, his family, his friends, academics, and basketball," said Scott Miner.  

As an athletic family we are all saddened by the loss of Coach "Pops" Hammett, but we have been blessed to have him as a part of our family at Penn State Wilkes-barre for the past five years.  He has been a tremendous influence on so many people and will be deeply missed by all.