Murray State University Athletics
Hall named as receivers coach
8/3/2004 12:00:00 AM | Football
Murray State University announced the hiring of Bobby Hall as receivers coach for the football Racers. Hall, a 1978 graduate from Mississippi, was most recently the head coach for the Tupelo Fireants, a National Indoor Football League (NIFL) team that had a franchise-best 8-6 record in the 2004 season, good for a second-place tie in the Atlantic South Division.
During the 2004 season, which ran from March 12 through Aug. 7, Tupelo ranked first in the 26-team league in passing yards per attempt (7.7), second in scoring offense (57.4 points per game) and third in total offense (270.4 yards per game). Tupelo quarterback (and Coach Hall's son) WIll Hall ranked seventh in the NIFL in pass rating (102.4) and fifth in total offense (171.3 yards per game).
Those offensive numbers were bolstered by offensive lineman and former Racer James Bridges, who signed with the Fireants last February.
Bobby Hall has a 26-year background in coaching, with 24 seasons as a head coach. He was the head coach at Northeast Mississippi Junior College in Booneville, Miss., from 2001 to 2002. He was also the head coach at Amory (Miss.) High School (1984-89, 1993-2000), Louisville (Miss.) High School (1989-93) and Raleigh (Miss.) High School (1980-84).
At Northeast Mississippi, he led the Tigers to a 10-9 record over the 2001 and 2002 seasons. In 2002, he brought the Tigers to a North Division championship, earning the MACJC State Coach of the Year award. Three of his players in the 2002 season were named to the NJCAA All-Mississippi Community College Athletic Association Defensive Team.
Over his 21-year high school coaching career, Hall amassed a 211-52 (.802) record, winning state titles in 1991, 1994, 1995 and 1998. In 1994, '95 and '98, his teams had perfect 15-0 records, earning a No. 16 final national ranking in 1995, when he was named the Jackson Clarion-Ledger State Coach of the Year.
His teams were state runner-up in 1987 and 1988 and advanced to the state semifinals in 1992. His teams won or shared division titles from 1985 through 2000, and he earned 10 Division Coach of the Year honors (1987-89, 1991-97). His teams earned North State titles in 1987, 1988, 1994, 1995 and 1998.
"I'm excited to be here," Hall said. "I feel good about this situation. I want to come in and make a positive contribution."
"We're excited to have Coach Hall on board," said head coach Joe Pannunzio. "He is a proven winner, and he will bring enthusiasm to our offense, which I hope will equate to a few more wins and, ultimately, an OVC championship."
Murray State opens its 2004 campaign on Aug. 28 at home against Glenville State.
