Rich Hammermaster

As boys basketball coach from 1964-78 at his alma mater, Rich Hammermaster led Puyallup High School to a 14-year record of 174-113. His PHS teams won six straight league championships in the mid 1960s through the early 1970s. During that time the Vikings compiled a 76-4 record in league play and a 111-17 mark in all games. The 1970-71 Puyallup High team reached the pinnacle, winning the state championship and earning Hammermaster the State Coach of the Year honor. In 1995, he became the 45th coach inducted into the Washington State Basketball Coaches Hall of Fame.

Hammermaster, born Nov. 19, 1935 in Tacoma, was a multi-sport athlete at PHS, earning two letters each in football, basketball and tennis. In 1953, he played in the annual state-city all-star high school football game and then participated in football for one season at the University of Washington. After a redshirt season with the Huskies, Rich transferred to the College of Puget Sound. There he played football and basketball, earning all-conference, All-Little Northwest and honorable mention All-America football honors as a linebacker.

He returned to Puyallup where he worked for the school district as a teacher and coach. In addition to leading the Vikings on the hardwood, Hammermaster was an assistant to PHS football coaching legend Bob Ryan, and also the boys and girls tennis head coach from 1962-71.

In addition to coaching and teaching, Hammermaster was a football official from 1965-99, working games from the junior high to college level.