Rob Hamm

Title

Men's & Women's Cross Country Head Coach
Email

rhamm@lbc.edu
Phone

610.750.1455

The Lancaster Bible College Athletic Department is pleased to announce the hiring of Rob Hamm as Men's & Women's Cross Country Head Coach. Hamm has 10 years of coaching experience at Twin Valley School District in Berks County, as he has coached both cross country and track and field.

Hamm is also a graduate of Twin Valley and was a member of the 1991 and 1992 PIAA State Champion cross country teams. Hamm also competed in pole vault and won an indoor state championship during his time at Twin Valley and was the state runner-up outdoors.

"I've been running since I was in seventh grade and was fortunate to have a great coach, Paul Bowman, in high school, who really encouraged us love running," Hamm said. "There were like 30 runners on the team and it was family oriented, which is something I've tried to do with the teams I have coached."

Hamm, who still runs every single morning before work, said he hopes to build a winning program, but that the idea of winning is just one aspect he would like to bring to the program.

"Of course we want to build a team that is competitive, but that is not the end all," Hamm said. "A major component is the atmosphere of camaraderie that is embraced. I want the team to enjoy being together at races, practices, where ever, but I also want to create moments where the runners can look back on these days with fond memories and say there were a part of something special."

Hamm also said he wants to serve as the team's guide towards reaching goals they want to attain, not just the goals he lays out for them.

"I want the runners to own this team," Hamm said. "I want to guide them to their goals through training and hard work."

Hamm feels that when the team sets its goals, they will be able to determine what a successful cross country program looks like at Lancaster Bible.

"Once we have our goals, we will be able to manage our goals and find out what they are, but until that time, the overall things I look for are, 'Did the student enjoy the sport?,' 'Did they see growth?,' 'Did they give their all?,'" Hamm said. "The student-athletes will define what our success looks like on a daily basis."

Hamm said he wants the program to evolve in every way.

"I want the team to grow in numbers and be more competitive in the North Eastern Athletic Conference," Hamm said. "I want the team to find a good balance between running, faith, academics and every aspect of their life."

Lancaster Bible Director of Athletics Pete Beers agreed with Hamm's assessment and can't wait for the him to get started.

"I'm very happy to have Rob as our coach," Beers said. "I think his passion for running and for relationship building is the right fit for Lancaster Bible and our cross country program right now. I look forward to the process of turning our program from one of recreational running to that of relevancy first in our conference and then in our region. I believe Rob has the capacity to do that."

Rob and his wife Amy will celebrate their 18th wedding anniversary this month. They have three kids, Amanda, Anna and Chris.

In addition to Hamm being named head coach, former Lancaster Bible cross country runner and current Lancaster Bible admissions counselor, Betty Pompell has been named an assistant coach. Pompell will not only help Hamm with practices, but will also help with recruiting.