Leyden picks Hamann as new coach

Rob Hamann figured he would have to wait a little longer for an opportunity to become Leyden’s head baseball coach.

The timeline changed when Gary Wolf decided last month to step down after 23 years as head coach. Now Hamann is stepping up from an assistant coach after he was chosen last week to lead Leyden’s baseball program.

“I’m definitely excited and I’ve been thinking about this since I came back here to teach and coach,” said Hamann, a 1995 Leyden graduate who starred in baseball and basketball. “I had my eye and thoughts on this for a long time but I didn’t think it would come for another three years (when Wolf retires from teaching).”

Hamann is in his ninth year as a teacher at West Leyden and spent the last six years as a varsity assistant to Wolf. He also played basketball and baseball at Wheaton College and made it as high as a Class AAA during a five-year career as a minor league pitcher in the Blue Jays’ organization.

Hamann said his time in the minors helped fuel his desire to get into coaching.

“As a pitcher I had time to spend around managers and coaches and to talk to people,” said Hamann, who credited former minor league pitcher and coach Hector Berrios as a big influence. “That’s where my knowledge of the game and strategy and handling of players — I learned a lot there and took a liking to it.”

Getting a chance to work with his former high school coach was also a nice primer for Hamann’s promotion.

“He’s definitely been bringing me along, which is pretty nice,” Hamann said of Wolf. “He’ll be a big part of the program the next three years.”

Leyden was 451-346 and won four regional and three West Suburban Gold titles under Wolf. Hamann has a good understanding of what led to that success.

“The great thing about it is the kids have always been willing to work hard,” Hamann said. “Once you get them motivated they’ll do what you ask them to do.

“I love the makeup of a Leyden player. It’s someone who is going to work hard all the way to the end and we saw that in the playoffs last season.”

Leyden suffered heavy graduation losses from last season’s team that won a school-record 28 times in 34 games. But two of the top pitchers, all-area pick Angel Sanchez and Sandro Irizarry, will return.

“We have a lot of work to do between now and (March),” Hamann said. “Once the season starts it’s going to be exciting. We have a core of pretty solid young talent and the seniors coming back are talented.”