FHSU Athletics
Curtis Hammeke, Fort Hays State University Director of Athletics, announced he will retire from his position effective in June of 2025. Hammeke will complete 21 years of service in his role at Fort Hays State at the end of the 2024-25 academic year. He has had a major impact on Fort Hays State's continued athletic success at the NCAA Division II level, while also making a tremendous impact on the community of Hays in his time as an administrator, coach, and student-athlete at FHSU.
A native of Great Bend, Kansas, Hammeke has spent nearly three decades at Fort Hays State University. His time began as a baseball student-athlete in the mid-1980s followed by five years as head coach of the Tiger baseball team from 1991-1996. He is currently in his 21st year of service as Director of Athletics for the Tigers, running from 2004-2025. He received his bachelor's degree from Fort Hays State University in Physical Education in 1985 and then completed his master's degree in Athletic Administration in 1993.
"Having spent the vast majority of my adult life engaged with this university, I'm thankful for the many opportunities I've been given as a student-athlete, baseball coach, and as director of athletics. I will always be grateful for the relationships developed through the years, and the people I've worked alongside both internally and externally," said Hammeke.
In Hammeke's time as Director of Athletics, Fort Hays State has enjoyed a total of 22 team conference titles in all sports combined since 2004. Numerous individual conference titles were also won on his watch. Hammeke was instrumental in FHSU's transition from the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference in 2006 to its current affiliation with the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association (MIAA), one of the most competitive NCAA Division II conferences nationally. Twenty of the 22 conference titles under Hammeke have been during the Tigers' membership with the MIAA. Current head coaches Chris Brown (football), Mark Johnson (men's basketball), Adrian Pilkington (softball), and Brian Flax (women's tennis), along with former head coaches Tony Hobson (women's basketball), Brett Parker (men's soccer), Craig Shaw (women's soccer), and Chas Thompson (men's wrestling) all set new records for wins at FHSU in their respective sports under Hammeke's guidance.
Fort Hays State served as host of several NCAA postseason events during Hammeke's 21 years of service, several based on the success of Fort Hays State's teams. FHSU was host of the NCAA Central Regional in women's basketball three times after the team earned the No. 1 seed (2015, 2019, 2022). Football hosted an NCAA playoff game in 2017 as the super region's No. 1 seed following an undefeated regular season. Softball also hosted an NCAA regional in 2013 as the No. 1 seed. FHSU was also selected as a regional host in men's wrestling and cross country within the last 21 years.
Fort Hays State Athletics has seen numerous facility upgrades over the past couple of decades thanks to Hammeke's guidance and the generous contributions and donations from the Tiger community. FHSU Soccer Stadium (2011), Schmidt-Bickle Indoor Training Facility (2013), FHSU Track and Field Facility (2016), and the ongoing construction of the Bickle-Schmidt Athletic Complex (projected for late 2025) highlight the new facilities built for Tiger Athletics during his time at the helm. He also orchestrated numerous upgrades to existing facilities, including Lewis Field Stadium, Gross Memorial Coliseum, Larks Park, Fleharty Family Field, and FHSU Tennis Courts. Several of the upgrades include chairback seating for fans, replacement of playing surfaces, videoboards and scoreboards, locker rooms, lighting, fencing, study space for student-athletes, and various other improvements to current infrastructure.
Hammeke has made a huge impact by making a strong connection with members of the Tiger community and working with several individuals who have made generous donations and contributions to FHSU Athletics. He created the existing Difference Makers group for FHSU Athletics, a group of families and individuals who have made major contributions to help fund major upgrades and improvements at FHSU. He was also instrumental in creating the annual Tiger Auction and Dinner, a highly-popular fundraising event among Tiger supporters held each summer. The Tiger Auction and Dinner, currently organized by Assistant Athletic Director Matt Cook, celebrated its 15th year in 2024.
Fort Hays State Athletics has also seen the addition of three new sports during Hammeke's post, which included men's and women's soccer in 2011 and women's wrestling in 2023, going from 16 to 19 intercollegiate sports overall. With the additional sports, Fort Hays State now has over 500 student-athletes competing annually at the NCAA Division II level.
Hammeke has built and provided strong stability for FHSU Athletics in his time at the helm. Five of the current members of the Athletic Administration Staff have served in their roles for at least 11 years, including one spanning two decades. The sports of football, men's basketball, women's basketball, men's wrestling, softball, tennis, men's and women's cross country, men's and women's track and field, and women's golf have all seen tenures of head coaches last more than a decade under Hammeke's guidance. Five of those head coaches are still in their positions today and three of the five have coached at least 20 years at FHSU.
"It is with a profound sense of gratitude and admiration that I recognize Curtis Hammeke's exceptional contributions as our Director of Athletics," said President of Fort Hays State University Dr. Tisa Mason. "Over the past 21 years, Curtis has not only elevated our athletic programs to remarkable heights, but also fostered a deep sense of community and connection with our student-athletes, coaches, and supporters. Working alongside Curtis has been an honor and a privilege. His dedication and vision have shaped the strong foundation we enjoy today, and his leadership will be greatly missed. I extend my heartfelt wishes for a fulfilling and joyful retirement and thank him for his years of service and the legacy he leaves behind."
Hammeke has enjoyed a lifetime of contributions to collegiate athletics in the state of Kansas. Following his graduation from FHSU in 1985, he served as Assistant Baseball Coach and Sports Information Director at Barton (Kan.) Community College from 1987 to 1991. Barton is where his journey as a collegiate student-athlete and administrator began in the early 1980s, surrounding his two years as a student-athlete at Fort Hays State University. Following his five years as head baseball coach at FHSU, Hammeke was Director of Athletics at Great Bend High School for two years and then took his first collegiate Director of Athletics position at Butler (Kan.) Community College from 1998 to 2003. Butler won a pair of football national championships at the junior college level on Hammeke's watch. He spent one year as Director of Athletics at Newman University in 2003-04 before returning to Hays to serve the last 21 years in his current role. In 2017, Hammeke was inducted into the Barton Community College Sports Hall of Fame for his time as both a player and coach at the institution.
Curtis and his wife Annette are blessed with three children, Father Andy Hammeke and Alicia Knight currently residing in Hays, and Nick Hammeke currently residing in Kansas City. All three were student-athletes and graduates of Fort Hays State University and have enjoyed great success in their lives beyond FHSU. Alicia and husband Kegan have four children – Emery, Kollins, Kolter, and Turner, while Nick and wife Olivia have one son – Jack.
"It is with a great sense of gratitude that I reflect on the last 30 years," Hammeke said. "The two cornerstones of my career have been the ongoing growth of my Catholic faith and the supportive presence of my wife Annette. We've been extremely blessed with our children, their spouses, and our grandchildren. Words can't describe what they all mean to us. Beyond faith and family, it is Fort Hays State University that I'm most grateful for. There's a certain degree of apprehension, along with excitement, which coincide with not knowing exactly what the next chapter of our lives will encompass. But regardless, I will cherish forever my time spent here with all the amazing people who work tirelessly on a mission to 'Defend the Fort.'"
Fort Hays State University will begin a nationwide search for its next Director of Athletics immediately.
Individuals interested in applying or sharing information about the position can access the link to the job posting here.