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SB: Bert Emanuel (Hiring)

SB: HCU tabs Bert Emanuel as new Head Softball Coach

Emanuel takes reins following retirement of Mary-Ellen Hall after 35 years



Bert Emanuel has been tabbed as the new head softball coach for Houston Christian University, as announced by HCU President Dr. Robert Sloan and Director of Athletics Stan Williamson on Wednesday. Emanuel becomes just the third head coach in the program's history, taking over for Mary-Ellen Hall who retired after 35 seasons at the helm of her alma mater.
 
"I am incredibly honored and grateful for the opportunity to lead the HCU softball program. Coach Hall has built an incredible foundation over more than three decades of leaderships and commitment to this University and it's student athletes and I have tremendous respect for what she and Coach Willhite established here." – Bert Emanuel
 
A native of Houston and former Rice University standout on the gridiron, Emanuel was the Founder and Head Coach of Texas KAOS from 2005-2017, an elite national college-prep softball organization in the Houston area.
 
He built a nationally-ranked program while developing and placing over 25 athletes into collegiate programs. That included his daughters Sydni, a three-time All-SEC performer at the University of Georgia, and Cortni, a three-time All-American for the Bulldogs and an assistant under Coach Hall at HCU for the past four seasons.  
 
"We are so happy to announce Bert Emanuel, Sr. as HCU's Head Softball Coach. Bert and his family are firmly planted in Houston from his time at Rice University and on through developing his own children and so many others in softball. This history, his love of the Lord and his work in developing Texas KAOS as an elite college prep softball organization make him uniquely qualified to take the reins of our program. We are enthused about Bert's leadership moving forward." – Stan Williamson, HCU Director of Athletics
 
Emanuel has most recently served as the Athletic Director for Fort Bend County where he created a master brand while aligning facilities and programming to attract partnerships and sponsors, while also consulting for the American Flag Football League.
 
Prior to those roles, Emanuel was the Athletic Director at Fort Bend Christian Academy and also a business operations director for the Houston Roughnecks of the XFL. He has extensive background in high performance development frameworks integrating physical training, body mechanics, cognitive processing, mental performance and conditioning. Emanuel has also worked closely with athlete branding as well as being an ambassador for Athletes in Action.
 
"Bert Emanuel is a great fit for HCU and will be a tremendous addition to our softball program. He holds a wealth of technical knowledge of the game and experience at the highest levels of competitive sports and we are enthusiastic about what he brings to the table." - Dr. Robert Sloan, HCU President
 
An alumnus of Langham Creek High School in Houston, Emanuel was a two-time selection in the Major League Baseball draft, out of high school by the Toronto Blue Jays and then again in college by the Pittsburgh Pirates. He chose to pursue a career in football, playing quarterback at UCLA for his first two collegiate campaigns before transferring home to Rice University.
 
There he was the starting signal-caller for the Owls as a junior and senior, throwing for over 3,000 yards and rushing for just under 1,200 more during his two-season stint on Main Street.
 
Emanuel was drafted 45th in the 1994 NFL draft by Atlanta. He spent eight seasons as a wide receiver in the league, amassing over 350 catches and 4,800 receiving yards for the Falcons, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Miami Dolphins, New England Patriots and Detroit Lions while playing under the tutelage of such legendary coaches as Dan Reeves, Tony Dungy and Bill Belichick.
 
"My vision is to build a team culture centered on faith, discipline, development and competitive excellence while creating an environment where our players can grow as athletes, students and young women. Houston is filled with elite softball talent and I am ready to connect HCU to the city in a powerful way while building something special on and off the field."  - Bert Emanuel
 
Emanuel and his wife Terri have five children, daughters Sydni, Cortni, Brittni and Whittni and son Bert Jr., a quarterback at San Diego State University.
 
"Having spent years developing elite athletes, including All-Conference selections, All-Americans and  World Series competitors, I'm excited about the future of HCU softball and the opportunity to help elevate this program to new heights." – Bert Emanuel
 
Mary-Ellen Hall, HCU's head coach for the last 35 years, announced her retirement on Tuesday, April 7. With the program since its inception in 1989, Hall will continue to serve in her role as Senior Woman Administrator, which she has held since 2009. She ended her illustrious career with 933 victories.
 
HCU finished the 2026 campaign with an 11-36 mark overall while ending the Southland campaign with an 8-19 ledger. HCU lost six senior student-athletes off this year's club in Maddy Bailey, Karlie Barba, Chloe Foster, Kristin Haygood, Breana Herrera and Addy Prasifka.
 
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