Bradley hires former OSF fundraising ace as general manager of basketball

PEORIA — The Bradley University men's and women's basketball teams have brought in an established fundraiser in a new position created to assist the athletic department in expanding its financial support for the programs. BU hired Tom Hammerton on Tuesday as general manager of basketball. He will work with Bradley University athletics director Chris Reynolds, deputy athletics director Brad Chandler and both basketball head coaches on external engagement, revenue generation, student-athlete opportunities, and long-term program competitiveness.

Hammerton, the son of former Richwoods High School basketball coach Wayne Hammerton, is a Peoria native who spent the last 13 years as president of the OSF HealthCare Foundation. Under his direction, the OSF Foundation assets grew from $30 million to $400 million. He retired from OSF last month.

"Tom Hammerton is uniquely suited for this role," Reynolds said. "He brings an exceptional record of fundraising achievement, trusted relationships throughout Peoria and beyond, and a genuine passion for Bradley basketball. "As the landscape of intercollegiate athletics continues to evolve, Tom will be invaluable in helping us build the resources, alignment, and engagement needed to support our programs, while assisting athletics and coaching leadership with strategic considerations related to roster planning, recruiting, and student-athlete relations.

" Hammerton worked for Bradley earlier in his career, serving from 1999-2008 as director of athletic development, executive director of development, and associate vice president for principal giving. He returns now to the Hilltop, where he'll begin his new role on June 1 as college basketball moves through a boom era in NIL and players transferring between schools. "I am deeply honored to return to Bradley and to support two basketball programs that mean so much to this university and this community," Hammerton said.