Hamilton Bennett, a product of Fort Mill High School who was drafted in 2010 by the New York Mets organization, has been hired as Legion Collegiate Academy's head baseball coach.
 
The announcement was made on Friday by Legion Athletic Director Mike Drummond, who said he was very pleased to have a person with Hamilton's baseball background and love of education accept the offer to join the Legion athletics family.
 
The position became available following the tragic loss of Coach Jalen Benjamin, who died in a traffic accident in Kershaw County on August 10.
 
Hamilton, who spent four years as a pitcher in professional baseball mostly in the Mets organization, has also been involved in coaching for 20 years. After being drafted in the 29^th round out of Tennessee Wesleyan University where he majored in education and playing in the minor leagues, Hamilton has most recently served as head coach at Fort Mill H.S. in 2023 where he directed the Yellow Jackets to a 15-5-1 record and pitching coordinator at Nations Ford H.S. in 2024. During his years of coaching, Hamilton has had 15 of his high school players earn college scholarships and three players who were drafted by MLB.
 
"I have found my new passion since retiring as a player and that is coaching young men and helping them develop their skills to become better than me," said Hamilton.  "I am looking to take the next step in my coaching career by helping to take Legion Collegiate Academy to the next level."
 
After graduating from FMHS in 2007, the left handed pitcher signed with Winthrop University before transferring to Surry Community College, and then Tennessee Wesleyan.
 
Hamilton now lives in Tega Cay.