Matthew Hammer was born in Ohio (go Guardians!) but has spent most of his life in North Dakota. A former Legion player with Fargo Post 2, Matthew also played briefly in college before shifting his focus to academics. While in college, he began his coaching journey at Fargo North High School and through the Fargo Parks District’s youth baseball and softball programs. Once his own children were old enough to start playing, Matthew returned to coaching full force, bringing his experience and passion to the next generation of players.

Matthew’s coaching philosophy centers on attitude and effort. He emphasizes that players cannot control every outcome on the field—if they could, baseball would be an easy game. Instead, he encourages athletes to focus on what they can control: their mindset and their work ethic. “Bringing a good attitude and giving your best effort every day ensures that you’ll be a good teammate and will be able to positively react to whatever the game throws your way,” he explains.

When coaching players of varying skill levels and personalities, Matthew prioritizes fundamentals first. Once players have a solid foundation, drills are tailored to challenge each athlete within their skill range, helping every player improve at their own pace. This approach allows both younger and more advanced players to grow while keeping practices engaging and meaningful.

Matthew has faced the challenge of balancing player development with the natural desire to win, especially with younger teams. Early in his coaching career, he learned that success isn’t measured solely by wins and losses. Instead, he focuses on giving every player meaningful opportunities to compete, fostering teamwork, and ensuring that the love of the game endures.

As a coach, Matthew hopes to leave a lasting legacy that goes beyond baseball and softball. He wants every player to feel they were given the chance to improve their skills, succeed on the field, and gain lessons that will serve them off the field as well.

He is quick to acknowledge the support of his fellow coaches: “I’d like to thank Fargo Youth Baseball for this recognition, and also my coaching crew from the past few seasons—they are a fantastic group and equally deserving of recognition for the effort they put in every season.”

Honorable Mentions (9U):
Matt Irish (Preference Employment Solutions), Eric Carlson (Northern Plains Financial), Blake Ellefson (HuHot Black), Kelly Myrmoe (Capstone), Shane Reed (Capstone), Patrick Mahoney (Power Connections)

Schedule of Announcements:
5/6U: Wade Moore (Prolific Property Management)
7U: Greg Miller (Meliora Engineering)
8U: Matthew Hammer (Amundson Electric Inc)
9U: Ethan Schnabel (9U Fargo 61's Red)
10U: Friday, September 26
11U: Monday, September 29
12U: Tuesday, September 30
13U: Wednesday, October 1
14/15U: Thursday, October 2
Program Coaching Staff of the Year: Friday, October 3rd

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