Galen Hall

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Galen Samuel Hall (born August 14, 1940 in Williamsburg, Pennsylvania) is an American football coach. Hall was offensive coordinator at the University of Oklahoma from 1966 through 1983, offensive coordinator at the University of Florida in 1984, head coach at Florida from 1985 through 1989, head coach of the Orlando Thunder in 1992, and head coach of the Rhein Fire from 1995 through 2000. He is currently serving as offensive coordinator at his alma mater, Pennsylvania State University.

1 College
2 AFL & NFL
3 Coaching
- 3.1 Collegiate coaching
- 3.2 Coaching at the professional level
4 See also
5 External links

[edit] College

Hall was raised in Williamsburg, Pennsylvania. He graduated from Penn State, where he was the starting quarterback for the Nittany Lions in 1960 and 1961. He led those teams to a combined 15-6 record and wins in the 1960 Liberty Bowl and 1961 Gator Bowl. While attending Penn State he joined The Delta Upsilon Fraternity.

[edit] AFL & NFL

After a short stint in the National Football League (NFL) in 1962, in which he appeared in 3 games with the Washington Redskins, Hall signed with the American Football League (AFL) New York Titans in 1963. He appeared in 13 games that season, going 45 for 118, including his only start, a 48-0 loss late in the season against Kansas City Chiefs.

[edit] Coaching

[edit] Collegiate coaching

Hall served as Offensive Coordinator at the University of Oklahoma from 1966 to 1983. He would be hired as interim head football coach at the University of Florida four games into the 1984 season, following the removal of Charley Pell. Hall went on to win the remaining eight games on the 1984 schedule, winning what appeared to be the Gators' first-ever Southeastern Conference football championship in November 1984. He was named the Associated Press Coach of the Year in that year and given the permanent position of head coach. However, the SEC would later strip Florida of the 1984 SEC title, following an investigation. In 1985, Hall's Florida team would again finish with the best record in the SEC, but would not claim the conference title because of an NCAA probation.

The 1984 and 1985 seasons are remembered (along with the 1990 season), as "Best in the SEC" years for Gators football. However, Hall's teams found it increasingly difficult competing under the burden of NCAA sanctions, despite typically strong defenses and the electrifying play of star running back Emmitt Smith (1987-1989). He was forced out in 1989 amidst yet another investigation of NCAA rule violations that would eventually lead to another probation for Florida football in 1990. He was 40-18-1 during his tenure at Florida.

[edit] Coaching at the professional level

In 1992, Hall was the second head coach of the Orlando Thunder of the WLAF (now NFL Europe). He coached the team to an 8-2 record before losing to the Sacramento Surge in the World Bowl II championship game.

In 1994, Hall became the head coach of the Charlotte Rage of the Arena Football League. He led the team to a 5-7 record, and a spot in the playoffs. He went on to become head coach of the Rhein Fire in NFL Europe from 1995-2000, leading the team to three World Bowl berths, including NFL Europe championships in 1998 and 2000. He is the second-winningest coach in NFL Europe history with 44 victories and was selected Coach of the Year three times.

In 2001 Hall was named head coach of the XFL's Orlando Rage, posting a league-best 8-2 record before losing in the first round of the playoffs. He would be reunited with Emmitt Smith while serving as running backs coach for the Dallas Cowboys in 2002. He returned to Penn State in 2004 as offensive coordinator and running backs coach.

Preceded by: Charley Pell	University of Florida Head Football Coach 1984–1989	Succeeded by: Gary Darnell

Florida Gators Head Football Coaches
Forsythe • G.E. Pyle • McCoy • Busser • Kline • Vanfleet • Sebring • Bachman • Stanley • Cody • Lieb • Wolf • Woodruff • Graves • Dickey • Pell • Hall • Darnell • Spurrier • Zook • Strong • Meyer