Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, February 27, 1994 TAG: 9402270026
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: D-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: JACK BOGACZYK
DATELINE: MARTINSVILLE LENGTH: Long
Hall's teams have won 592 games. He didn't know that.
There is some thought - and undoubtedly wishful thinking by Piedmont District opponents - that Hall will retire after this season.
He doesn't know that.
"There are nights now when I tell myself, `I want to go,' " said Hall, who experienced one of those Thursday when his Bulldogs were upset by Fieldale-Collinsville in a district tournament semifinal. "Then, there are days when I wonder what I'll do without a team to coach."
The Virginia High School League regionals start this week, and after Martinsville's surprising 20th Piedmont regular-season championship, Hall's team is one victory from taking the legendary coach to another state tournament and one loss from sending him to the golf course at Forest Park Country Club.
The Region III tournament will be played in the Bulldogs' back yard, at Bassett and Magna Vista high schools. Martinsville, ranked fourth in the state Group AA poll, is two victories from another trip to Charlottesville for the final four. Seven of Hall's teams have won state championships. He was the assistant to his buddy Mel Cartwright on three earlier title teams. And if the Bulldogs win Hall's eighth title?
"I'll retire right there on the floor," Hall said.
Hall doesn't expect the Bulldogs to win the title, but then he didn't expect them to win the Piedmont. They were picked fourth in the preseason, but are 18-4. And if they don't win the state championship?
"I'd like to come back for one more year," said Hall, 65. "That would be it. No more. One more, if possible, if they let me."
Hall can tell you his golf handicap (10), but he isn't sure of his coaching records. During an interview, he had to phone Cartwright to find out how many seasons they had switched varsity and junior varsity jobs. Hall holds the record for victories by a state public school coach - he's a long par-5 behind the uncatchable Warren Rutledge of Richmond Benedictine - but his thinking of one more season isn't about his 600th victory.
"The next game is still more important to me than records," Hall said.
The only thing Husky about Hall is his reputation. The Bulldogs' coach is built more like a greyhound, but he can be as tough as a doberman or warm as a labrador. What's most important is that when he barks, his players listen.
"Communication is the No. 1 priority in this day," Hall said. "The discipline we have is the same as it was in the '70s. If it's going to work, someone has to be in charge, and you hope the players look up to the coach because he's earned their respect.
"You want the players to do what you ask them to do, but you have to understand they're not going to do it all of the time. I'm kind of like [Virginia Commonwealth coach] Sonny Smith. I like to play with 'em, to joke with 'em. There are times they have to work hard, but there are times for fun, too.
"Hopefully, what you'll get is better people out of that. If you win, that's added on. What I want to do is try to help every kid I've coached become a useful citizen, and let them know there's more in life than basketball."
While growing up in Fieldale, all Hall wanted to do was play basketball at the YMCA. He never thought about coaching until he started doing it in the Army in Korea. He coached one year (1955-56) at Pleasant Grove, N.C. - boys and girls - and estimates each team won about four games, besides his 592 Martinsville triumphs.
It's said that he's retired as a teacher, but that's a literal translation of his status. He's still teaching afternoons and nights, above the squeaking shoes of his small but attentive class of dribblers.
"I'm not a Bobby Knight coach, but I like his discipline to a point," Hall said. "I'm not a Dean Smith coach, but I like what he does, how he's changed over the years, with the times. He has to be the greatest innovator in the game. I'm not an innovator at all. Most of what we do, I've stolen from someone."
He recalls the distant days when the Bulldogs played E.C. Glass, against another coaching legend, Jimmy Bryan, and the Hilltoppers' tough 1-3-1 zone defense.
"Jimmy'd let you make that first guard-forward pass to start your offense," Hall said, smiling before gritting his teeth. "Then, he absolutely wouldn't let the guard cut through. So much for starting your offense."
Hall stole that, just as he borrowed something more contemporary he saw two years ago when he attended the ACC Tournament. Sitting in the stands at the Charlotte Coliseum, Hall watched Florida State use full-court pressure with Charlie Ward playing a "center-field" spot in the middle of the floor. It was a 2-1-2 zone. It's now in Martinsville's play book.
"People have always called me a defensive specialist," he said. "I guess that's because when I came to Martinsville, we started picking up people man-to-man at half court when most people were playing 2-3 zones. No one was trying to funnel or fan people then.
"Defense wins state championships. Those banners on the wall don't come from offense."
Hall's team plays eight defenses, with variations - full- and half-court man-to-man, the UNC run-and-jump, in-your-face denial, a half-court trap and 1-2-1-1, 2-2-1 and 2-1-2 zone pressure. He's installed them at various points of the season, "because anything you can do to motivate kids is what you want to do, and something different does."
Hall only considered leaving Martinsville once, in 1967, when Ferrum Junior College was looking for a coach. Hall could have had the job, but he turned it down. The reason for Hall's decision seems stunning.
"I guess I was kind of afraid," he said. "We were already successful here. I certainly don't regret it. Martinsville has been a great community to me. The school has been supportive. I've had good players and assistant coaches."
Martinsville is paying Hall $3,800 to coach. That sounds very reasonable to keep an old bulldog around another year.
by CNB