Hall named Millikin University head football coach
DECATUR — Millikin University has a new head coach for their football program. The announcement of Carlton Hall becoming the new coach came from athletic director Dr. Craig White Thursday.
Hall was previously defensive coordinator for the past two years. He took over the head coaching role on Thursday after Dan Gritti left the program for other opportunities. Gritti was the head coach for five full seasons and for three games in the 2020-21 short season.
“Carlton Hall is a person who builds relationships,” said White. “He has a presence and can connect with people.”
“His football background is extensive,” adds White. “And he will use this knowledge to teach the young men at Millikin the game of football.”
“I expect him to have great success in the coming years,” concludes White. “And I very much look forward to working with him.”
Hall expressed similar sentiments in his remarks, calling his promotion to head coach as “an incredibly special opportunity.”
Hall would express thanks to White and Millikin leadership for his hiring. Hall’s hiring marks the 25th head coach in the history of the football program.
“This is a truly great day for Millikin football,” states Hall. “That is my hope and belief for the future. We will all be able to look back to December 9, 2021, as a truly great day for this program.”
“It is my honor to be the head football coach here,” continues Hall. “It will be our duty to create and generate relationships that will not only last for the next four, three, or two years with our players but for the next 40 or 50 years.”
A look at the Hall resume
Hall joined the Millikin football staff in April 2020 directing the defensive corps, specifically the linebackers. He was over 16 years of collegiate coaching experience.
Hall was a linebacker coach for three seasons at Southern Oregon before coming to Millikin. In his time there, he coached the linebacker corps where five of his linebackers received first-team all-conference honors.
He was a role player in Southern Oregon ending their 2017 season with a 12-1 record. In 2017 and 2018, Southern Oregon also had their best defensive seasons in school history. His resume also includes stints with Williams College, Yale, Houston, and Harvard.
In his four-year stint with Harvard, he led the defense in an effort to secure two Ivy League Championships. During that tenure, he coached 17 players to all-conference honors. Two of those players would continue their careers to the National Football League.
Prior to his coaching career, Hall was a three-year starter at linebacker at Vanderbilt. During his time there, he received All-Southeastern Conference honors. He also was a selection in the East-West Shrine All-Star Game. Additionally, he led the conference with the most tackles with 97.
Following his collegiate career, he signed a free-agent contract with the San Diego Chargers in 1998.
Hall maintains focus on academics, not just football
“I want to make sure our student-athletes have a well-rounded experience while in college,” said Hall. “If all we do is teach these young men how to play football, we will have done them and this community a disservice.”
“Our main goal, going forward, will be to assist and support our current student-athletes in all their endeavors,” Hall continues. “NOT just on the field, but off the field as well.”
Recruitment efforts to focus heavier on Illinois
Hall stated his philosophy in recruitment during his remarks to the public.
“We will recruit, yield, retain, and graduate young men from all over the country,” states Hall. “We will start right here at home. We will recruit the state of Illinois the hardest, specifically central Illinois.”
Millikin University is among the top thirty schools in the country, per US News and World Report. Hall wants to keep this in mind while in the recruitment process.
“Our goal is to take this football program to similar rankings and beyond,” Hall clarifies.
The Big Blue were 3-7 in 2021, with their biggest loss being in the season being against Wheaton College.
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Jake Leonard, a broadcast media and journalism veteran, is the editor-in-chief of Heartland Newsfeed. Leonard is also GM and program director of Heartland Newsfeed Radio Network, wrestling editor and contributing writer for Ambush Sports, a contributing writer for My Sports Vote and Midwest Sports Network, and a former contributor to Bleacher Report and Overtime Heroics. He resides at home in Nokomis, Ill. with his dog Buster.
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