DUTCHESS COMMUNITY COLLEGE - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Coach
- Head
- Head Coach Men 's Baseball
Dutchess Community College Head Coach Al Hammell brings a multitude of baseball playing and coaching experience from all levels of the game to the DCC baseball program.
A former catcher, Hammell is a 1989 graduate of Our Lady of Lourdes High School. He played collegiately at LeMoyne College and was selected by the New York Mets in the 28th round of the 1992 Major League Draft after his Junior season. Hammell went on to spend five years in the Mets organization reaching as high as the AAA level.
Coach Hammell spent four years as the top assistant at D1 Marist College while he was completing his Masters Degree in Public Administration and obtaining his NYS Elementary Education Certification. After two years of experience back in professional baseball working with the Angels organization as an area scout, Hammell began his teaching career in the Millbrook Central School District in 2003. He then went on to spend 9 years coaching baseball at the high school level- 3 years as the Head Coach at Millbrook High School and 6 years as the Head Coach at Arlington High School. In his nine years ('06-'14) at the high school level, Hammell led his teams to Five Sectional Championships (three at Millbrook '06, '07, '08; and two at Arlington '12, '13). Both programs also competed in the NYS Final Four Championships in Binghampton, NY. It was Milbrook's first ever Final Four appearance and Arlington's first Final Four appearance in over 25 years. In 2006, Hammell was named New York State Coach of the Year in Class C. He has also shown proven success in moving many players on to play at the D1, D2, and D3 collegiate levels.
Currently, Hammell is beginning his 13th year as an elementary education teacher in the Millbrook Central School District.
Hammell also oversees the Young Falcons and Dutchess Aces Youth Instructional Baseball programs, and serves as the Head Coach of the 17u Taconic Rangers College Showcase Travel Team during the summer months. Coach Hammell resides in his hometown of Pleasant Valley with his wife Stacey, and his three children, Tyler 15, Morgan 12, and Allie 11.
Job Titles:
- Assistant Coach Women 's Softball
Job Titles:
- Coach
- Head Coach Women 's Basketball
Coach Jackson comes to Dutchess with over 25 years on coaching experience at the High School and college levels. He played High School, college and professional basketball respectively. Coach Jackson has won at every level and absolutely loves the game of basketball. He has been married to his lovely wife Eva over 35 years and the have two grown children Samantha and Morgan, both played the game also. Coach Jackson looks forward to creating a positive culture that will aid to the lifetime of success for student athletes.
Job Titles:
- Assistant Coach Men 's Soccer
Job Titles:
- Assistant Coach Men 's Baseball
Job Titles:
- Assistant Coach Women 's Softball
Job Titles:
- Head Coach Women 's Softball
Coach Watt has been coaching softball for more than 15 years in the New York Area.
Job Titles:
- Site Supervisor
- Title / Site Supervisor
Job Titles:
- Assistant Coach Men 's Baseball
Job Titles:
- Assistant Coach Men 's Baseball
Job Titles:
- Coach
- Assistant Coach Women 's Volleyball
Dolores (Didi) Spero is a lifelong Hudson Valley resident. Her love of volleyball began while playing at John Jay High School where she was both Captain and voted MVP. Coach Spero attended Pace University and earned her Bachelor of Science Degree in Criminal Justice. During her time at Pace she played in the Pace Co-Ed Volleyball league followed by years of playing in area adult leagues and grass doubles tournaments.
Coach Spero began coaching at her high school alma mater during college and was the girls JV volleyball coach and assistant to Varsity at John Jay for three years. She was also a founding member/coach of the Mid-Hudson Juniors Volleyball Program. Coach Spero has been an assistant coach for the New York Elite Volleyball Club since 2019 assisting with the developmental program and 16U, 17U, 18U Regional teams. She is excited to be starting her first season with the DCC women's volleyball team in 2022.
Job Titles:
- Assistant Coach Men 's Baseball
Job Titles:
- Head Coach Women 's Volleyball
Coach Sanfilippo has been an organizer, head coach, and player in the Empire State Games Masters Division Volleyball program from 1994-2010. During that time, Coach Sanfilippo has helped the Hudson Valley region earn two gold medals and seven bronze medals.
Job Titles:
- Assistant Coach Men 's Basketball
Ian is a graduate of Sheffield Hallam University in England, where he earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Sport and Exercise Science, majoring in Exercise Physiology. Ian has over 20 years coaching experience and is a USSF National C-Licensed and NSCAA Advanced National licensed coach. Ian is currently training to become a coach educator with US Soccer.
Ian joins the Falcons off the back of an assistant coaching role with Bard College. He also serves as a technical director for LaGrange soccer club. He is also currently a Head Coach for East Hudson Academy and East Fishkill Soccer Club.
Job Titles:
- Assistant Coach Men 's Baseball
Job Titles:
- Assistant Coach Men 's Basketball
Job Titles:
- Athletic Administration
- Director of Athletics
- Title / Director of Athletics
Matthew Paquet was hired in August 2009 as Athletic Director at Dutchess Community College and has provided leadership to the Falcons as an NJCAA member of the Mid-Hudson Conference and Region XV. Mr. Paquet provided consistent structure and support to the department allowing it to strengthen and grow. In 2010, Mr. Paquet facilitated the development of a Women's Softball Field on campus and in 2020 assisted with the renovation of the Falcon Hall gymnasium. In 2021, Mr. Paquet introduced Esports to campus and has overseen the development of an Esports Lab on campus for competition. Mr. Paquet Academically Mr. Paquet provided oversight and support to assist students with earning recognition for their scholastic-academic honors including All-Region, All-Conference, and NJCAA Academic All-American awards and well as SUNY Chancellor's Honors. He has aided student-athletes by providing references and recommendations when students are moving on to four-year institutions or obtaining gainful employment after their college pursuits.
Mr. Paquet was born and raised in Poughkeepsie, NY and was a two sport athlete at Our Lady of Lourdes High School, lettering for Soccer and Baseball. Mr. Paquet returned to the Hudson Valley after completing his Bachelor's degree where he has been a long-standing volunteer in the community. Mr. Paquet began his athletic career as Head Coach of Freshman and JV Baseball at his Alma Mater, Our Lady of Lourdes High School. After assisting Lourdes with winning a NYS Championship in 2006, Mr. Paquet joined Dutchess Community College as the Assistant Baseball Coach. From 2006-2010 Mr. Paquet was the Assistant Coach at Dutchess where they won a Region XV Championship in 2009. During this time, he coordinated community-based Summer Camps, Winter Clinics, and the Summer League Teams for the Dutchess Athletic Department.
Mr. Paquet graduated from Quinnipiac University with a Bachelor's Degree in Psychology and a Minor in Sociology in 2003 and earned a Master's Degree in Public Administration from Marist College in 2013.
He currently resides in Poughkeepsie, NY with his wife Mary, daughter Fiona, dog Laney, and cat Bruce.
Job Titles:
- Assistant
- Athletic Director
- Title / Assistant Athletic Director
Job Titles:
- Head Coach Men 's Basketball
Job Titles:
- Assistant Coach Women 's Basketball
Job Titles:
- Assistant Coach Men 's Basketball