SB: Hall announces retirement, effective at end of 2026 campaign

4/7/2026 1:00:00 PM

HCU alumna to step down after 35 years and over 900 wins, will remain in her Senior Woman Administrator role

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It is the end of an era for Houston Christian University softball.

Mary-Ellen Hall, HCU's head coach for the last 35 years, announced her retirement on Tuesday afternoon. With the program since its inception in 1989, Hall will step out of the dugout at the conclusion of the 2026 season but will continue to serve in her role as Senior Woman Administrator.

"It has been an honor to be the head coach here at my alma mater all these years. None of what we've done here would be possible without the overwhelming support we've gotten from so many. I would be remiss if I didn't thank everyone and there certainly isn't enough time or space to do that.

That gratitude extends all the way back to Dr. Ed Billings, who gave me my first job. Then to Dr. Alexander, Ron Cottrell, Dr. Shields and Francis Curtis and on to Dr. and Mrs. Sloan, Steve Moniaci and Stan Williamson. To my Dad, "Papa Hall", my biggest supporter of all who loved HCU softball so much. And of course, to my best friend Roger Willhite and his wife Rita, and all the other coaches, colleagues and staff we've had in our program over 35 years.

I am grateful for all the parents who trusted us with their daughters and gave our teams their support. And most of all … our wonderful student-athletes. This program wouldn't be what it has been without them. It is not lost on me the job that God gave me in stewarding all the fantastic young women that have graced Husky Field and this campus. It has been such a privilege to be able to coach and mentor them, and has brought me even more joy to see them get their degrees, become successful in the workplace and grow into outstanding wives and mothers.

We've done some great things here on Beechnut Street. I'm proud of all we've accomplished and how we have represented the University at every turn.

I will miss coaching immensely, but am grateful to be staying on in the athletic department. This is where my heart has been and will continue to be, and I am extremely thankful to the Good Lord that He has seen fit to let me be His servant here all this time." - Mary-Ellen Hall

A staple in the collegiate softball coaching ranks for three-and-a-half decades, Hall is a 1988 graduate of HCU and was a two-year letterman on the volleyball team. She took the head coaching reins of the softball team prior to the 1992 season after serving as an assistant coach during the program's first three seasons.

Along with the late Roger Willhite, her longtime assistant, Hall built the Huskies into a perennial NAIA national power, leading the Huskies to nine straight Red River Athletic Conference titles and nine NAIA National Tournaments. She was named RRAC Coach of the Year nine times and after the 1999 and 2005 seasons was honored along with Willhite by the NFCA as the NAIA Southwest Region Coaching Staff of the Year.

HCU's squads were nationally ranked in the Top 15 in every season between 1996-2007. That span saw the Huskies finishing with a ranking of eighth or better on seven occasions, including a three-year stretch of fourth (2003), third (2004) and finally second in the school-record 51-5 season of 2005. The Huskies won 40 games or more for six straight seasons from 2002-2007.

Hall oversaw the program's transition to the NCAA Division 1 ranks in 2007 and in 2011 she led the Huskies to the Great West Conference title before guiding HCU into the Southland Conference in 2013.

"Mary-Ellen has been a truly great leader for HCU softball and we are tremendously grateful for her years of service. Her character, experience and leadership as well as her commitment and love for her student-athletes has made her one of the most outstanding coaches in HCU athletic history." – Dr. Robert Sloan, HCU President

During her tenure, the Huskies have had 32 All-Americans and 99 All-Conference players. Her athletes have excelled not only on the field but in the classroom as well, where she has had over 150 Academic All-Conference honorees and 200 Academic All-America/Scholar-Athlete selections and numerous team accolades for academic prowess. Overall, Hall boasts a graduation rate of just over 90% for her time at HCU.

"Coach Hall has been a strong influence as HCU's Head Softball Coach as well as mentor to so many student-athletes for many years. HCU has been blessed to have Mary-Ellen through so many changes in HCU Athletics from her time as a student-athlete to coach and administrator. She has been a great resource through the years and we are blessed that she will continue in her role as Senior Woman Administrator." – Stan Williamson, HCU Director of Athletics

Inducted into the HCU Hall of Honor in 2012, Hall was named to the Red River Athletic Conference Hall of Fame in 2024. Hall has had 21 of her former players inducted into the HCU Hall of Honor as well, and over 30 of her former student-athletes have gone on to become coaches on some level.

She currently sits at 927 career victories, 29th among active coaches across all NCAA ranks. She ranks 79th in all-time coaching victories and is 50th amongst Division 1 coaches in victories. Her 35-year tenure is tied for eighth amongst active coaches and tied for 10th all-time.

Hall has been HCU's Senior Woman Administrator since 2009 and will continue in that capacity supporting all women's sports at HCU while also representing the school with the Southland Conference and NCAA.

A national search will be held for just the third head coach in program history.

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HCU alumna to step down after 35 years and over 900 wins, will remain in her Senior Woman Administrator role

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