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Stevie Ray Hamer





Steve is the son of Robert & Gracie Hamer of Grand Junction, TN. Steve and his wife, Cher have three children. Their daughter Isabella and son Malachi are students at UT. Daughter, Penelope attend Apostolic Christian School. Steve was educated in the Hardeman County school system where he attended Grand Junction Elementary and Middleton High School. Steve became an outstanding basketball player where he was awarded the honors of “Tennessee’s Mr. Basketball” at Middleton High School and received a scholarship offer from over 100 colleges and universities throughout the United States. After graduating from high school, he accepted a scholarship from the University of Tennessee in Knoxville, TN. Where he played basketball and earned his BA Degree in Journalism and electronic media.




While at the University of Tennessee, he became a men’s basketball standout for the Vols from 1992-96. Steve scored more than 1400 points for the Vols and was named to the All-SEC freshman team and twice made the All-SEC team as an upperclassman. He was selected by the Boston Celtics in the second round of the 1996 NBA Draft. Steve played two seasons for the Boston Celtics before being injured and leaving the team.



Following his playing career, Steve returned to Tennessee and spent 13 years as an educator and coach. Immediately prior to transitioning to a staff role at UT, Steve spent over seven years as the director of athletics at Apostolic Christian School in northwest Knoxville.

Upon returning to his alma mater, Steve accepted the position of Associate Director of Development with the Tennessee Fund in 2020. In April of 2022, he was promoted to the role of Director of Letterwinner Relations where he takes the lead in developing a comprehensive approach to ensuring that all letterwinners maintain a meaningful connection with UT. His role includes collaboration withthe Letterman’s T Club as well as examining opportunities for VFL and LVFL engagement throughout the year.


Steve has been acknowledged as one of the best players in Tennessee basketball history. In April of 2020, he was officially inducted into the Greater Knoxville Sports Hall of Fame. Those who know Steve know that he is rarely speechless. However, the VFL had trouble finding words to say when he first heard that he is a 2020 inductee of the Greater Knoxville Hall of Fame.



Of all of his accomplishments, honors, and awards Steve would be the first to say that he is most proud to be called a Son, Husband, Father, Brother and a child of the living God, Jesus Christ.