Program director and Salt Lake Metro head coach Dave Hammer is married, and has four children, David (30), Darrin (28), Allie (22) and Maddie (17). Dave also has two grandchildren. Both David and Darrin played college basketball and are currently assisting with the Metro program.  

Dave began his coaching career as a volunteer men’s basketball assistant coach to Coach Lynn Archibald at the University of Utah. Dave helped coach the Runnin’ Utes from 1986 to 1989.  During that time Utah had a record of 72-51.  Utah won the WAC and played in both the NCAA and NIT tournaments while Dave was on staff. .

Other assistant coaches on staff while Dave was an assistant coach at Utah include:

·         Trent Johnson current head coach at LSU. .

·         Larry Eustachy current head coach at Southern Mississippi and former national coach of the year.

·         Bob Burton current head coach at Cal State Fullerton.

·         Norm Parrish current head coach at Salt Lake Community College

Beginning in 1992, Dave joined Norm Parrish as a men’s basketball assistant at Salt Lake Community College.  During Dave tenure from 1992 to 2000. Salt Lake Community College had a record of 184-101, won the league twice and attended the NJCAA national tournament.

During his time coaching men’s basketball Dave has helped develop and recruit more than 150 college basketball players including many who have gone on to play professionally.

Dave is nationally recognized for his expertise in the development and evaluation of high school basketball players.  He is the Utah representative for the McDonalds All American Game for both the boys and girls.  Dave is the publisher of the IntermountainHoops.com website.  Dave’s Intermountain Hoops camps are nationally recognized as top 10 camps in the nation for both boys and girls. Dave was inducted into the Speice Wall of Fame in 2004.

Dave brings a unique perspective to club basketball.  He has run a successful club basketball organization since 1995.   He has over a decade of collegiate basketball experience both as a coach and as a recruiter.  He also is the father of two former college basketball players.  Dave’s ability to understand all sides of player development and collegiate recruiting gives him a unique perspective that he is able to share with his Metro parents and players.  As a father he has had his children participate in club sports, move away to college and make the same sacrifices necessary to have them achieve their potential.

ABOUT  SALT LAKE METRO

Dave Hammer founded the Salt Lake Metro club basketball program in 1992.  As an assistant at Salt Lake Community College he found that Utah club basketball was underdeveloped  At that time the only travel teams were high school teams who might happen to ask a couple of extra players from other schools.   Many good players were being left out of the process and not receiving development or evaluation.  It was hard to get an early look for recruiting as many players were not participating.

This led Dave to start up the Salt Lake Metro organization for high school aged players.  The first year of the program was 1995. In 1997, Salt Lake Metro won two national tournaments, the first and only team from Utah to do so. In 2010 Salt Lake Metro again won a national tournament capturing the Las Vegas Fab 48 open division championship.

Salt Lake Metro began its girls program in 2005 by merging with the highly successful Utah Avalanche program. The Salt Lake Metro girls program received sponsorship from sports giant adidas in 2008.

2011 will mark the seventh year of the girls program and year seventeen of the boys program. Both programs are the longest running high school age club basketball programs in the state of Utah.

Salt Lake Metro is known nationally to college coaches and collegiate scouting services. Salt Lake Metro attends many of the top travel team tournaments in the nation. Salt Lake Metro players receive national attention from collegiate scouting services with many players being included on lists of the top players on the West Coast and the nation.

The Metro boys program has had 176 players move on to play college basketball. Included in that group are players that went on to play professional basketball and are current high school and college coaches. After six years of existence the Metro girls program has had 82 players move on to play college basketball.

A number of current college coaches have assisted with Salt Lake Metro.  Most of the coaches on the Salt Lake Metro coaching staff have extensive college basketball backgrounds, either as players or coaches.

Salt Lake Metro also has extensive coverage of its club basketball program including an extensive website  a blog (Salt Lake Metro Hooptalk), Facebook (Salt Lake Metro Basketball) and Twitter (SaltLakeMetro) pages that are designed to promote the Metro players and program.  Salt Lake Metro helps each player with their individual player development and collegiate recruitment.

Salt Lake Metro players reach their goals of being college basketball players. Through intense advanced skill development, collegiate level coaching and playing a very competitive schedule Salt Lake Metro wants to help those who are very serious about improving their basketball abilities and helping to move them on to the collegiate level.

College coaches get comfort knowing that players from a club program have moved on to have success.  Many club teams have to rely on claims of what they are going to do.  Most teams do not have a proven record of success to rely on.

Salt Lake Metro has now had 258 players move on to play college basketball including 107 players that have played at the NCAA division I level.  There are currently 95 Metro players on collegiate basketball rosters including 29 at the NCAA division I level. Salt Lake Metro has 10 players that are NCAA division I starters.  These numbers will increase as the members of the 2010 club teams make their collegiate decisions.

Players interested obtaining more information or wish to participate with Salt Lake Metro may contact Coach Hammer or may complete the Player Evaluation Request Form.