Coach (2002...2007) J. Kelley Hall
preserved from Louisiana's Official Website
CAJUNS NAME HALL WOMEN’S BASKETBALL COACH
LAFAYETTE – University of Louisiana at Lafayette Director of Athletics Nelson Schexnayder announced the hiring of Louisville assistant coach J. Kelley Hall on Friday as the school's 10th head coach of the Ragin' Cajuns’ women’s basketball program.
Hall's hiring is pending approval from the University of Louisiana Board of Trustees. He is replacing former head coach Gay Nix, who spent the past six years guiding the Cajuns.
The 43-year old DeFuniak Springs, Fla., native brings a wealth of collegiate coaching experience to Louisiana-Lafayette. For the past 19 years, Hall has been coaching women’s basketball at the collegiate level.
“I’m very pleased and excited that someone of Mr. Hall’s background and experience has decided to join us,” commented Schexnayder. “I’m most excited about his overall desire to be here with Louisiana-Lafayette. He is a welcome addition to our staff.”
Hall spent the last two seasons with the University of Louisville, serving as associate head coach last season. He also served as recruiting coordinator and handled the on-floor coaching duties of the post players. Hall is credited with organizing the first Lady Cardinals Elite Camp, this past summer.
A 19-year collegiate coaching veteran, Hall went to Louisville after spending four seasons as the recruiting coordinator at Auburn. Hall’s first recruiting class at Louisville saw him sign the second-ranked junior college player in the country, Amanda Wolke.
With the signing of Wolke, Hall managed to sign the highest rated player by a Conference USA team. Along with Wolke, he brought in transfers from Auburn, Western Illinois and three freshmen to round out a Top 30 recruiting class.
Hall’s first recruiting class at Auburn was ranked fourth in the country by Blue Chip Magazine. That class included All-Americans Shana Askew, Tasha Hamilton and Conswella Sparrow. In his second class, every player was named an All-American by USA Today and was ranked fifth overall in the country.
Hall’s third recruiting class was ranked in the Top 10 by USA Today, Blue Star and All-Star recruiting services. That class included high school All-Americans Le’Coe Willingham and Lakeisha Johnson and junior college All-American LaRita Spencer. His final recruiting class was also nationally ranked in the top ten USA Today, Blue Star and All-Star recruiting services. In that class, he signed Carol Smith who was named Rawlings NJCAA National Player of the Year.
Before his arrival at Auburn, Hall spent two seasons at Cal State Fullerton as an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator. During his stint at CSF he was able to coach the NCAA’s leading scorer in Koko Lahanas. From 1992-94, he served in the same capacity at Mississippi State.
“My wife and I are pleased to be joining this team,” said Hall. “This is a great opportunity for my first Division I head coaching job. I’m excited about starting immediately on recruiting.”
Hall began his coaching career as an assistant coach at Troy State during the 1982 season. He then served as a volunteer assistant at the University of Alabama during the 1983-84 season. Hall then became the head coach at Gordan Junior College from 1984-85. He guided his team to a 19-7 record and a third place finish in the Georgia Junior College Athletic Association.
Hall then served as the head coach at Truett-McConnell Junior College in Cleveland, Ga. for seven seasons. He compiled an impressive 185-49 record that included three state junior college championships and four runner-up finishes. In 1991 and 1992, the Atlanta Journal and Constitution named him Coach of the Year.
While at Truett-McConnell, Hall also served as the athletics director, physical education instructor, assistant dean of students and the chairman of the health and physical education department.
Hall received his bachelor’s degree in secondary education from Troy State in 1982.
He (is) married to the former Meredith Michele Sisson (since) May 19, 2001.
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Re: Congrats to Coach Hall (both of them)
Originally Posted by Turbine
