Eastern Michigan Athletics
Longtime Soccer Coach Hall Announces Retirement
10/27/2023 4:00:00 PM | Soccer
Hall produced three MAC Regular Season Championships and two MAC West Division titles
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) – After more than three decades representing Eastern Michigan University, Head Soccer Coach Scott Hall has announced his retirement. The 2023 season marked Hall's 25th year leading the Eastern Michigan soccer team. He had been with the program since it came into existence in 1995, serving as assistant coach for four seasons before taking over as head coach in 1999, and was the longest tenured coach in the Mid-American Conference.
"It has been a great honor to lead this program for the past 25 years," said Hall. "My primary objective was to leave the program in a better state than when we began, and I believe we have achieved that. I want to express my heartfelt gratitude to the exceptional student-athletes and alumni. I take immense pride in their accomplishments both at EMU and in the broader world, and I'm deeply humbled to have played a small role in their journey. I want to thank my dedicated staff, including Megan Miles, Mike Sheehy, and, most notably, Joe Malachino, whose friendship and loyalty have sustained me for the past 18 years. I must also acknowledge the outstanding support staff at EMU, including our athletic trainers, media relations, facilities, academic services, strength & conditioning, and equipment staffs. I've formed numerous enduring friendships with these remarkable individuals, all of whom have contributed significantly to making the EMU experience truly exceptional. Last but certainly not least, I want to express my deep appreciation to my family - Sue, Jack, and Maya - for standing by me throughout the roller coaster ride of coaching over the past 25 years. I eagerly anticipate our next adventure."
Hall, a former member of the EMU men's soccer team from 1990-94, had a career record of 210-215-67 and a 132-113-32 mark in MAC play. Under Hall, EMU squads enjoyed nine seasons of 10-or-more victories including a pair of 15-or-more win campaigns (1999, 2001). Hall's teams qualified for the MAC Tournament 15 times and captured one tournament title, three regular season titles, three appearances in the MAC title game, and nine top-five regular season finishes. Furthermore, he was named the MAC's Coach of the Year three times – 1999, 2001, and 2013.
"We extend our heartfelt gratitude to Scott for his dedication and remarkable contributions to Eastern Michigan soccer for more than 30 years," said EMU Vice President/Director of Athletics Scott Wetherbee. "Scott's exemplary representation of EMU, marked by his unwavering class and integrity, has earned our profound respect. Scott and his staff built a tremendous foundation, and we will look for our next head coach to carry on the standard of excellence that this program expects."
Not only was Hall the longest tenured head coach in the conference for women's soccer, he also was one of just 13 active head coaches in the sport during the 2023 season to have guided the same program for 25 years or more. Hall's 25 years of service also rank as the sixth-most in Eastern Michigan history, sitting behind only Bob Parks of track & field/cross country (34 years), Steve Wilce with gymnastics (32), current men's golf coach Bruce Cunningham (31), Peter Linn with swimming and diving (31), and Elton J. Rynearson with football (26).
Although the fall 2020 season was postponed until the spring of 2021, the Eagles rose to the occasion, as the team finished with a 6-3 overall mark, which tied for second in the MAC West and fourth overall in the league. The squad's .667 win percentage was the best for an EMU team since the 2009 season, when the same mark was achieved.
During his first season as head coach in 1999, Hall led the Eagles to their first-ever Mid-American Conference title and NCAA Tournament berth. During that memorable 1999 season, Eastern Michigan was ranked sixth nationally in team defense with a 0.55 goals against average. The Eagles also finished the year with 13 shutouts, good for seventh in the nation. Goalkeeper Sarah Willis was named MAC Player of the Year following the season, along with five other Eagles garnering all-conference honors. Hall was selected MAC Coach of the Year for his efforts, the first time an EMU soccer coach earned the award. Hall was named MAC Coach of the Year again following the 2001 season after going 10-4-1 in conference play.
Throughout his tenure with the Eagles, Hall has coached six MAC Players of the Year, 49 all-conference selections, 89 Academic All-MAC picks, and 13 All-Great Lakes Region performers.
Hall took over the women's soccer program following the tragic death of the program's first head coach, Paul Scicluna, in the fall of 1998. He had served as assistant coach since the inaugural season in 1995. During his time as assistant coach, the Eagles qualified for the MAC Tournament in 1997 and 1998.
A four-year varsity letterwinner at Grand Ledge High School (1985-89), Hall earned All-Capital Area Conference and All-League honors. He continued his career as a member of the Eastern Michigan men's soccer program from 1990-94, earning four varsity letters.
Eastern Michigan will conduct a national search for the program's third head coach.
MAJOR AWARDS EARNED UNDER HALL
Coaching Honors
3x Mid-American Conference Coach of the Year (1999, 2001, 2013)
Student-Athlete Honors
1x United Soccer Coaches All-American
20x U.S.C. All-Great Lakes/Midwest Region Honorees
6x MAC Player of the Year Honorees
3x MAC Freshman of the Year Honorees
25x First Team All-MAC Honorees (38 selections)
24x Second Team All-MAC Honorees (27 selections)
25x MAC All-Freshman Team selections
4x CoSIDA Academic All-Americans
24x CoSIDA Academic All-District IV Honorees
2x U.S.C. College Scholar All-America Honorees
7x U.S.C. College Scholar All-Central Region Honorees
11x U.S.C. College Team Academic Award Earned by EMU
79x Academic All-MAC selections (146 honors)
"It has been a great honor to lead this program for the past 25 years," said Hall. "My primary objective was to leave the program in a better state than when we began, and I believe we have achieved that. I want to express my heartfelt gratitude to the exceptional student-athletes and alumni. I take immense pride in their accomplishments both at EMU and in the broader world, and I'm deeply humbled to have played a small role in their journey. I want to thank my dedicated staff, including Megan Miles, Mike Sheehy, and, most notably, Joe Malachino, whose friendship and loyalty have sustained me for the past 18 years. I must also acknowledge the outstanding support staff at EMU, including our athletic trainers, media relations, facilities, academic services, strength & conditioning, and equipment staffs. I've formed numerous enduring friendships with these remarkable individuals, all of whom have contributed significantly to making the EMU experience truly exceptional. Last but certainly not least, I want to express my deep appreciation to my family - Sue, Jack, and Maya - for standing by me throughout the roller coaster ride of coaching over the past 25 years. I eagerly anticipate our next adventure."
Hall, a former member of the EMU men's soccer team from 1990-94, had a career record of 210-215-67 and a 132-113-32 mark in MAC play. Under Hall, EMU squads enjoyed nine seasons of 10-or-more victories including a pair of 15-or-more win campaigns (1999, 2001). Hall's teams qualified for the MAC Tournament 15 times and captured one tournament title, three regular season titles, three appearances in the MAC title game, and nine top-five regular season finishes. Furthermore, he was named the MAC's Coach of the Year three times – 1999, 2001, and 2013.
"We extend our heartfelt gratitude to Scott for his dedication and remarkable contributions to Eastern Michigan soccer for more than 30 years," said EMU Vice President/Director of Athletics Scott Wetherbee. "Scott's exemplary representation of EMU, marked by his unwavering class and integrity, has earned our profound respect. Scott and his staff built a tremendous foundation, and we will look for our next head coach to carry on the standard of excellence that this program expects."
Not only was Hall the longest tenured head coach in the conference for women's soccer, he also was one of just 13 active head coaches in the sport during the 2023 season to have guided the same program for 25 years or more. Hall's 25 years of service also rank as the sixth-most in Eastern Michigan history, sitting behind only Bob Parks of track & field/cross country (34 years), Steve Wilce with gymnastics (32), current men's golf coach Bruce Cunningham (31), Peter Linn with swimming and diving (31), and Elton J. Rynearson with football (26).
Although the fall 2020 season was postponed until the spring of 2021, the Eagles rose to the occasion, as the team finished with a 6-3 overall mark, which tied for second in the MAC West and fourth overall in the league. The squad's .667 win percentage was the best for an EMU team since the 2009 season, when the same mark was achieved.
During his first season as head coach in 1999, Hall led the Eagles to their first-ever Mid-American Conference title and NCAA Tournament berth. During that memorable 1999 season, Eastern Michigan was ranked sixth nationally in team defense with a 0.55 goals against average. The Eagles also finished the year with 13 shutouts, good for seventh in the nation. Goalkeeper Sarah Willis was named MAC Player of the Year following the season, along with five other Eagles garnering all-conference honors. Hall was selected MAC Coach of the Year for his efforts, the first time an EMU soccer coach earned the award. Hall was named MAC Coach of the Year again following the 2001 season after going 10-4-1 in conference play.
Throughout his tenure with the Eagles, Hall has coached six MAC Players of the Year, 49 all-conference selections, 89 Academic All-MAC picks, and 13 All-Great Lakes Region performers.
Hall took over the women's soccer program following the tragic death of the program's first head coach, Paul Scicluna, in the fall of 1998. He had served as assistant coach since the inaugural season in 1995. During his time as assistant coach, the Eagles qualified for the MAC Tournament in 1997 and 1998.
A four-year varsity letterwinner at Grand Ledge High School (1985-89), Hall earned All-Capital Area Conference and All-League honors. He continued his career as a member of the Eastern Michigan men's soccer program from 1990-94, earning four varsity letters.
Eastern Michigan will conduct a national search for the program's third head coach.
MAJOR AWARDS EARNED UNDER HALL
Coaching Honors
3x Mid-American Conference Coach of the Year (1999, 2001, 2013)
Student-Athlete Honors
1x United Soccer Coaches All-American
20x U.S.C. All-Great Lakes/Midwest Region Honorees
6x MAC Player of the Year Honorees
3x MAC Freshman of the Year Honorees
25x First Team All-MAC Honorees (38 selections)
24x Second Team All-MAC Honorees (27 selections)
25x MAC All-Freshman Team selections
4x CoSIDA Academic All-Americans
24x CoSIDA Academic All-District IV Honorees
2x U.S.C. College Scholar All-America Honorees
7x U.S.C. College Scholar All-Central Region Honorees
11x U.S.C. College Team Academic Award Earned by EMU
79x Academic All-MAC selections (146 honors)
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