hall corrections

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SoCalHoops Coaching News

A Few Coaching Notes & Corrections
From Poly's Brad Hall--(April 20, 1999)

On Saturday, in our article about several coaching changes in SoCal at the high school level, we posted the following about Pasadena Poly and coach Brad Hall, which came from the Pasadena Star News.

Pasadena Poly: This one actually happened back in March, but we missed it and wanted to at least get the word out as a sort of tribute to a guy who was one of the best coaches for the past 19 years. Saying the time was right and having contemplated a change for quite a while, Pasadena Poly boys basketball coach said he will take a sabbatical from the school beginning this fall. Hall, 44, has been the Panthers head coach for the past 19 years. His team advanced to the CIF-Southern Section Division V-AA championship game earlier this month. "I've been thinking about this for a while," Hall told the Pasadena Star-News. He told his players after Poly lost in the state playoffs last month. "I just want to explore other things." Hall will be away from coaching and teaching from approximately September to February, or the first semester of the next academic year. He said he plans to return following the sabbatical, although he acknowledges that decision belongs to the school. "The assumption is that I will return to coach," Hall said. "I'll definitely return to Poly." Hall said what clouds any concrete answers at this point, is that it has not been determined who will take over the basketball program, and if that person also will assume Hall's duties as a physical education teacher. A final decision isn't expected any time soon. Although Hall is still working out his plans, he said Navy coach Don DeVoe and Penn's Fran Dunphy both have invited him to spend a week with their programs this fall. Hall also said he plans to spend time with his brother Jim, an athletic administrator at Georgia Tech. "I think sometimes you need a chance to step back, so you can move forward," Hall said. "I was fortunate the school could give me the opportunity."

After reading the article (Coach Hall frequently visits our site and is a great source of good information out in his neck of the woods) Coach Hall wrote us the following letter:

The Star News did not get things exactly right. I applied for and received a one semester sabatical. A condition of the sabbatical is you must agree to return for at least one year after the sabbatical. No one has asked me to spend time at their schools. As part of my professional growth activities I hope to visit college practices. The reporter asked where I would like to visit and I mentioned Penn and Navy because I have players there. I have not asked anyone if I can visit yet. I have not put much thought into my plans. Erik Heger will be the coach at Poly next year. Erik was an All-CIF player at Poly. He was a four year starter and three year captain at Colorado College. He coached jv basketball (and asst varsity) at Poly two years ago. This past year he has been in Norway. He coaches youth basketball and is player -coach of the town's team. Erik will have my teaching job first semester and will run the basketball program. He is looking forward to working with returning players Marshall Duncan and Kirk Herald. I should be back the year after as coach and will teach second semester. New look in the Prep league next year: No Tom Maier at Chadwick after 27 years. And I hear that Alex Rivera, the coach at Flintridge Prep after 22-23 years will be the AD only.

The objectives of the semester sabbatical grant at Poly is to allow a teacher time to "study, widen horizons, and refresh the spirit." That is what I plan to do. Erik will do a fabulous job. He has a bright future. He was looking into college asst. jobs in US.and has offers to play and coach in Europe. We never would have gotten Erik if he was not an alum. If Poly could find Erik a full time job and he would have me, I would love to come back as his asst. or co- coach. He is an incredible young coach. By the way--I always ask Koko Archibong, who will attend Penn, if he is ever going to stop growing. Last week I measured him in the office. He is still growing- an inch taller than the last time I measured him. He is over 6'7" legit, barefoot and is closing in on 6'8". Div 5 sleeper of the year next year could be Marshall Duncan Poly soph- a scoring 5'-10" guard. He is not playing club but I think a summer of workouts will help his talent explode.

Thanks coach, and have a great time off on your sabbatical. Some people get to have all the fun. Not us though, we just get to watch and write about basketball. . . .