News
Written by Jason
Sunday, 25 October 2009 03:01
We've already covered some of the of Jon Hammond, the head coach of West Virginia University's Rifle Team. After this weekend he can add one more thing to that growing list. Hammond has become a big name in Collegiate Shooting and it will be interesting to see how he and others impact the growth and popularity of the sport.
From comes :
Olympic competitor and WVU Rifle Team Head Coach Jon Hammond will lead hundreds of participants in the West Virginia University Homecoming parade on Friday, Oct. 23. He also will be honored at halftime of the WVU-Connecticut football game on Oct. 24.
Hammond, in his fourth year as head coach, led his team to a national championship in 2009. In his first three years, Hammond was named Collegiate Rifle Coaches Association (CRCA) Coach of the Year, Great American Rifle Conference Coach of the Year, and the 2008 National Rifle Association (NRA) Distinguished College Coach.
“Coach Hammond is an extraordinary choice to lead our annual Homecoming parade,” said Stephen L. Douglas, president and CEO of the WVU Alumni Association. “Under his leadership, our rifle team has continued a long-standing tradition of excellence nationally. On a personal level, Coach Hammond has excelled in his own right, competing in the most recent summer Olympics. This is a great opportunity to recognize him for his amazing accomplishments.”
A native of Scotland, Hammond began shooting at a young age and joined a club team in his hometown of Aberdeen. At the age of 17, he won the World Junior Championships and went on to compete for the University of Leeds’ rifle team.
In 2002, Hammond was a member of the WVU Rifle Team while he worked toward his master’s degree in sport management. He was hired as head coach in 2006 where he led his team to a winning season.
After completing his second season as head coach, Hammond traveled to Beijing to compete for Great Britain in the 2008 Summer Olympics. He finished 29th in the 10m air rifle with a personal best score of 589; 34th in the 50m rifle prone; and 42nd in the 50m rifle 3-positions.
Before the Olympics, Hammond competed in all four World Cups in 2008. He had a fifth-place finish in the 50m prone at the Rio de Janerio World Cup and a personal best in the air rifle at the Munich World Cup.
In his three seasons at WVU, Hammond has guided eight of his athletes to 16 NRA All-American honors. His team has also excelled in the classroom. Five of his team members received CRCA All-Academic Honors in 2009.
Members of the WVU Rifle Team will follow Coach Hammond down High Street during the Homecoming parade.
