From Dallas, PA to Dallas, TX: LeShawn Hammett’s Coaching Journey and New Chapter at Paul Quinn College
By: Carrie Miner Yaple | Sportzwire | July 6, 2025 | Photo courtesy Carrie Miner Yaple @v1sion_media
From the Bronx to Dallas: LeShawn Hammett’s Coaching Journey and New Chapter at Paul Quinn College
From the high-energy courts of the Bronx, New York, to the culturally rich hardwood at Paul Quinn College in Dallas, Texas, Head Men’s Basketball Coach LeShawn Hammett’s story is one of perseverance, legacy, and excellence. With a record of building winners and shaping young men both on and off the court, Hammett is poised to make a historic impact at one of the nation's most unique and mission-driven HBCUs.
A Foundation of Faith and Family
LeShawn Hammett’s coaching journey began at Cecil College (2012–2015), where he compiled a 70-39 record and captured two Regional Championships and two Conference Championships. But his success at Cecil was more than numbers, it was built on a powerful personal bond. From day one, Hammett shared the sideline with his father, who served as his assistant coach, spiritual advisor, and best friend until his passing from COVID on March 30, 2020.
While the wins are historic, Coach Hammett’s journey has been personal, emotional, and purpose-driven from the start. Reflecting on his path, Hammett shared how integral his father was to his coaching and life journey.
"My dad was a great man. He worked really hard to provide for me and my family and instilled a mindset of hard work and to leave a legacy behind in all that you do," Hammett said.
"It meant a lot to have him part of my basketball journey. Our relationship meant the world to me, and I loved how his impact on my staff didn't just affect my life but the players' lives also. To win my first championship with my father and third with my son will forever be two of my greatest coaching memories. I do think some days about how if he was still alive, he'd be right here with me in Texas coaching at Paul Quinn."
A Dynasty at Penn State Wilkes-Barre
Hammett took over the men’s basketball program at Penn State Wilkes-Barre (PSWB) in March 2015. Over nine seasons, he built a powerhouse, amassing a record of 201-77, the best in school history. Under his leadership, PSWB saw:
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7 straight 20-win seasons
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7 consecutive USCAA National Tournament appearances
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3 PSUAC Conference Championship appearances
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5 Regular Season Conference titles
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3 National Championships
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91% graduation rate
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15 professional players
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23 All-Conference selections
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21 All-Americans
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3 Defensive Players of the Year
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2 Conference Players of the Year
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1 Sixth Man of the Year
He was named the 2019 National Coach of the Year and guided PSWB to a school-record 18-1 conference season. More than accolades, Hammett created a culture of excellence, brotherhood, and discipline.
Coach Hammett is the first to acknowledge that the road at PSWB wasn’t always easy. But the hard work and perseverance paid off—big.
"I'm very humbled and blessed to win three national championships. Most people don't have one. So to be in a position to win one is very humbling, but winning three—I still can't put into words," Hammett said.
"Through all the ups and downs at PSWB, we did some monumental things. I enjoyed my time there. I'm forever grateful for the opportunity and experience to grow as a coach. What we did over a five-year span can never be duplicated, and I think during that five-year run those student-athletes went on makes the program the best college program in small college history." Perhaps most notably, Hammett leaves Penn State as the only coach in the entire Penn State system, including main campus, to win a Men’s Basketball National Championship.
A New Era Begins at Paul Quinn College
On April 24, 2025, Paul Quinn College hired LeShawn Hammett to lead their men’s basketball program into its next chapter. The timing couldn't be more right.
Paul Quinn College (PQC), founded in 1872, is an NAIA institution with dual affiliation in the USCAA, and under the transformative leadership of President Dr. Michael Sorrell, has become a national model for purpose-driven education. Dr. Sorrell made headlines by eliminating football and replacing it with a campus farm to combat food insecurity and launched the nation’s only Urban Work College, an experiential learning model that integrates on-campus internships starting day one.
Athletic Director Brian Evans, now in his third year, brings championship pedigree from Georgetown College (KY), where his programs won 22 titles. The hire of Hammett is a bold step to elevate PQC’s basketball standing.
The gymnasium at PQC tells a story as powerful as the man now leading the program. With a mural of 1920s Dallas, when Black citizens couldn't walk freely downtown, the court is both a tribute and a conversation starter. The “We/Me” design on the floor drives home the school’s deep-rooted belief in collective progress.
With a new chapter beginning at Paul Quinn College, Hammett credits divine guidance and a clear sense of purpose for where he’s ended up.
"God has been amazing in my journey. I owe Him all the praise for what He's done for me. If you told me 13 years ago I'd have the success I've had—coaching and helping so many students graduate with degrees and become professional athletes—I would’ve thought you were crazy," he said.
"I walk around campus here at Paul Quinn grateful that President Sorrell and AD Evans granted me the opportunity to lead this program. It brings me so much joy that I'm getting to lead this program at this level, and I'm so excited and motivated to bring PQC a national championship."
Hammett is fully aligned with Paul Quinn College’s mission, inspired by the leadership of President Michael Sorrell.
"President Sorrell talks about having a purpose and understanding what your purpose is. I truly believe my purpose is to help this next generation change their lives—as well as help save lives. It's an amazing feeling to win championships, but the best feeling in the world is watching them graduate and start that next chapter in their lives."
A Familiar Core with New Ambitions
Hammett’s first team at Paul Quinn won’t be strangers. He returns 7 players from last season while infusing the roster with 11 new recruits, 4 of whom come from PSWB:
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LeShawn Hammett Jr. – 2024 USCAA National Champion
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Anton Berga – 2024 USCAA National Champion
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Rashod Ballard – 2023 & 2024 USCAA National Champion
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Sherlock Padmore – Redshirt at PSWB
Joining Hammett is a championship-caliber staff, all with PSWB roots:
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Javin Mitchell – 2024 USCAA National Champion Coach
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Mike Ayala – 2023 USCAA National Champion Coach
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Darien Wingate – 2019 USCAA National Champion Coach
Looking Ahead
The season tips off October 25th at home against Arlington Baptist University, and expectations are high. After a 13-39 campaign, Paul Quinn is hungry for a return to national prominence. With Hammett at the helm, a seasoned and proven staff beside him, and a core of winners in uniform, PQC is poised to rise.
Coach LeShawn Hammett's journey from the Bronx to Dallas is not just a story of wins and losses—it's a testament to resilience, faith, and vision. Now, at a college where purpose meets opportunity, he’s building more than a team. He’s building a legacy.
"We over Me” isn’t just on the floor at Paul Quinn—it’s the heartbeat of this next chapter.
