Photo by: WVU Athletic Communications
WVU’s Hammond Spells Relief N-C-A-A, C-H-A-M-P-I-O-N
March 18, 2026 02:17 PM | Rifle
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – Do you remember the old Rolaids commercial: How do you spell relief?
For West Virginia University rife coach Jon Hammond, he spells relief N-C-A-A, C-H-A-M-P-I-O-N.
Relief seems like an odd feeling for a coach to have, but for Hammond, who now has eight NCAA titles at West Virginia University to his credit, "relief" was the word that immediately came to mind.
He referenced it a couple of times during his 20-minute visit with media earlier today.
When you Google search NCAA dynasties, the top ones artificial intelligence produces are UCLA men's basketball's 10 national championships in 12 years from 1964-75; Connecticut women's basketball's multiple streaks of four NCAA titles and 100-plus-game winning streaks since 1995; Alabama football's run of success during the 12-year period Nick Saban coached the team from 2009 to 2020; Iowa wrestling's 26-year dominance of the sport from 1975 to 2000, or Penn State wrestling's current run of 10 titles in the last 15 years; and North Carolina women's soccer's 20 NCAA titles during a 25-year period from 1986 to 2009.
West Virginia's 43-year dominance of NCAA rifle didn't quite make the list, despite the Mountaineers claiming their 21stnational championship last weekend, not to mention the nine runner-up finishes they've had since 1980.
As former Mountaineer coach Ed Etzel likes to put it, rifle is an "orphan sport" - the implication being that orphans are often overlooked and forgotten.
This may apply to artificial intelligence, but not necessarily to the folks at West Virginia University. Vice-president and director of athletics Wren Baker made the drive over to Columbus last weekend to observe, support and celebrate WVU's 21st team title, which reaffirms the program's dominance in the sport.
Etzel is credited with four national championships from 1983 to 1989, established the foundation for another title in 1989 when he was on sabbatical, and then hand-picked Marsha Beasley, who claimed eight titles during a nine-year period from 1990 to 1998.
When the Athletics Department ran into financial difficulties in the late 1990s, rifle was one of the programs under consideration to be dropped until Beasley used her political connections to capitalize on a reservoir of public support to save the program.
When Beasley stabilized things and eventually handed the program off to Hammond in 2006, it took him three years to get it back to a championship level.
Then, rifle reeled off five straight national titles from 2013 to 2017 before hitting its longest dry spell since the early 1980s. What was once a yearly expectation of winning national championships had turned into a fond, distant memory.
Hammond admits the time period between 2017 and 2025 required a lot of self-evaluation and soul-searching on his part.
"I don't want to say trial and error, but there was a lot of questioning and figuring things out," he admitted. "In simple form, other teams got better, and it's hard to maintain. NCAA sports are changing; our sport was changing a little bit maybe more in terms of the athletes.
"The transfer portal was new, and we didn't know how much other schools were using that (to attract the best shooters)," he continued. "I felt like what a top recruit was looking for was maybe different. Back in the day it was like, 'Oh, I want to shoot rifle at West Virginia because it's the best team, and I'm going to go there.' In the last 10 years, there are lot more teams with great shooters."
That point was driven home at this year's NCAA Championships in Columbus when Hammond felt there were as many as a half-dozen teams capable of winning the title, compared to maybe one or two in many years past.
Hammond said it was a slow-turn getting the program back on top, and he credits associate head coach Jean-Pierre Lucas for introducing some new ideas and a fresh approach to things.
"This is his fourth year, and he brought a different energy, work ethic and a toughness that he has," Hammond explained. "He was part of five championships when he was here, so he knew what they went through, and he's a competitor."
Another big factor in the turnaround was the addition of Kentucky transfer Mary Tucker a couple of years ago. The Sarasota, Florida, resident won an NCAA smallbore national title in 2024, and sort of reestablished WVU as a destination place for the world's top shooters, much like Stefan Thynell once did for Etzel's program back in the late 1970s.
As old coaches are fond of saying, good jockeys can't win Kentucky Derbies riding on top of bad horses.
Now competing for USA Rifle, Tucker's competitive nature rubbed off on this year's team, which had to shoot near-perfect scores last Saturday to rally from fourth place to win the championship.
That alone makes this year's title special to Hammond, who admits the current trophy case is running out of space to house all of its trophies.
There are stories to be told for each one of them, including this year's. Fingerprints were visible on the trophy brought into the media room for today's news conference, although Hammond admits some of the markings were made by his children handling it, which makes it extra special for him.
"This is very satisfying, maybe not like the pure joy of winning that first championship, but there is a deeper satisfaction of, 'Hey, we've had to go through a lot,'" he explained. "It's a different level, too, of being able to share this with (his children), and it's the first year that maybe my oldest followed and understood, and the first one that they've all come to and been a part of.
"As you get older, you appreciate things more and you realize the hard work that goes into it," he added. "In all sports, we basically work toward one weekend of the year, and it's nicer in the summer when it's a little bit quieter before the season starts."
Among the many text messages of congratulations Hammond received from friends and colleagues last Saturday was a meaningful one that he got from Etzel, who still lives in Morgantown and keeps a close eye on things.
Etzel is sort of a Renaissance man with many different interests these days, but West Virginia University rifle has always remained near and dear to his heart.
"He sent a message of congrats and a link to an article, so yes, Ed likes to check in, and he usually comes to a couple of matches throughout the year," Hammond said.
For Etzel, he was probably feeling a little bit of relief, too, seeing the dynasty that he started back in 1983 has returned to its rightful place at the top.
Now, if somebody out there could just let AI know.
For West Virginia University rife coach Jon Hammond, he spells relief N-C-A-A, C-H-A-M-P-I-O-N.
Relief seems like an odd feeling for a coach to have, but for Hammond, who now has eight NCAA titles at West Virginia University to his credit, "relief" was the word that immediately came to mind.
He referenced it a couple of times during his 20-minute visit with media earlier today.
When you Google search NCAA dynasties, the top ones artificial intelligence produces are UCLA men's basketball's 10 national championships in 12 years from 1964-75; Connecticut women's basketball's multiple streaks of four NCAA titles and 100-plus-game winning streaks since 1995; Alabama football's run of success during the 12-year period Nick Saban coached the team from 2009 to 2020; Iowa wrestling's 26-year dominance of the sport from 1975 to 2000, or Penn State wrestling's current run of 10 titles in the last 15 years; and North Carolina women's soccer's 20 NCAA titles during a 25-year period from 1986 to 2009.
West Virginia's 43-year dominance of NCAA rifle didn't quite make the list, despite the Mountaineers claiming their 21stnational championship last weekend, not to mention the nine runner-up finishes they've had since 1980.
As former Mountaineer coach Ed Etzel likes to put it, rifle is an "orphan sport" - the implication being that orphans are often overlooked and forgotten.
This may apply to artificial intelligence, but not necessarily to the folks at West Virginia University. Vice-president and director of athletics Wren Baker made the drive over to Columbus last weekend to observe, support and celebrate WVU's 21st team title, which reaffirms the program's dominance in the sport.
Etzel is credited with four national championships from 1983 to 1989, established the foundation for another title in 1989 when he was on sabbatical, and then hand-picked Marsha Beasley, who claimed eight titles during a nine-year period from 1990 to 1998.
When the Athletics Department ran into financial difficulties in the late 1990s, rifle was one of the programs under consideration to be dropped until Beasley used her political connections to capitalize on a reservoir of public support to save the program.
When Beasley stabilized things and eventually handed the program off to Hammond in 2006, it took him three years to get it back to a championship level.
Then, rifle reeled off five straight national titles from 2013 to 2017 before hitting its longest dry spell since the early 1980s. What was once a yearly expectation of winning national championships had turned into a fond, distant memory.
Hammond admits the time period between 2017 and 2025 required a lot of self-evaluation and soul-searching on his part.
"I don't want to say trial and error, but there was a lot of questioning and figuring things out," he admitted. "In simple form, other teams got better, and it's hard to maintain. NCAA sports are changing; our sport was changing a little bit maybe more in terms of the athletes.
"The transfer portal was new, and we didn't know how much other schools were using that (to attract the best shooters)," he continued. "I felt like what a top recruit was looking for was maybe different. Back in the day it was like, 'Oh, I want to shoot rifle at West Virginia because it's the best team, and I'm going to go there.' In the last 10 years, there are lot more teams with great shooters."
That point was driven home at this year's NCAA Championships in Columbus when Hammond felt there were as many as a half-dozen teams capable of winning the title, compared to maybe one or two in many years past.
Hammond said it was a slow-turn getting the program back on top, and he credits associate head coach Jean-Pierre Lucas for introducing some new ideas and a fresh approach to things.
"This is his fourth year, and he brought a different energy, work ethic and a toughness that he has," Hammond explained. "He was part of five championships when he was here, so he knew what they went through, and he's a competitor."
Another big factor in the turnaround was the addition of Kentucky transfer Mary Tucker a couple of years ago. The Sarasota, Florida, resident won an NCAA smallbore national title in 2024, and sort of reestablished WVU as a destination place for the world's top shooters, much like Stefan Thynell once did for Etzel's program back in the late 1970s.
As old coaches are fond of saying, good jockeys can't win Kentucky Derbies riding on top of bad horses.
Now competing for USA Rifle, Tucker's competitive nature rubbed off on this year's team, which had to shoot near-perfect scores last Saturday to rally from fourth place to win the championship.
That alone makes this year's title special to Hammond, who admits the current trophy case is running out of space to house all of its trophies.
There are stories to be told for each one of them, including this year's. Fingerprints were visible on the trophy brought into the media room for today's news conference, although Hammond admits some of the markings were made by his children handling it, which makes it extra special for him.
"This is very satisfying, maybe not like the pure joy of winning that first championship, but there is a deeper satisfaction of, 'Hey, we've had to go through a lot,'" he explained. "It's a different level, too, of being able to share this with (his children), and it's the first year that maybe my oldest followed and understood, and the first one that they've all come to and been a part of.
"As you get older, you appreciate things more and you realize the hard work that goes into it," he added. "In all sports, we basically work toward one weekend of the year, and it's nicer in the summer when it's a little bit quieter before the season starts."
Among the many text messages of congratulations Hammond received from friends and colleagues last Saturday was a meaningful one that he got from Etzel, who still lives in Morgantown and keeps a close eye on things.
Etzel is sort of a Renaissance man with many different interests these days, but West Virginia University rifle has always remained near and dear to his heart.
"He sent a message of congrats and a link to an article, so yes, Ed likes to check in, and he usually comes to a couple of matches throughout the year," Hammond said.
For Etzel, he was probably feeling a little bit of relief, too, seeing the dynasty that he started back in 1983 has returned to its rightful place at the top.
Now, if somebody out there could just let AI know.
Jon Hammond NCAA Championship | March 18
Wednesday, March 18
A Conversation with Wren Baker
Monday, December 05
Jon Hammond | Thursday
Thursday, September 30
Life as a Mountaineer - Jared Eddy
Wednesday, March 24
