GRAMBLING, La. – Grambling State University Director of Athletics Paul A. Bryant announced Nakeya Hall as the new Lady Tigers’ head softball coach as she takes over for Wilbert Early.
Hall, who was named the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) Softball Coach of the Year, guided Alabama A&M to a 22-21 overall record and an 11-8 SWAC East Division mark last season. The Lady Bulldogs won a share of the East Division crown and their 20 wins were the most Alabama A&M had in its program in 10 years
“One thing we were trying to do was find a person that was the best fit for Grambling,” Bryant said. “To get interest from someone like Coach Hall is a big deal for us. It shows that the brand of Grambling transcends a lot of things. She was the SWAC Coach of the Year last year and for her to want to come to Grambling, and duplicate that, I was thankful we were able to get Coach Hall.”
Hall showed improvement in each of her six seasons at Alabama A&M. She guided the Lady Bulldogs to an 18-25 overall mark in 2015, along with a 7-9 SWAC record. In 2016, AAMU went 9-9 in SWAC play and followed that with an 8-7 record the following year.
Before taking over the reins at Alabama A&M, Hall was an assistant coach at her alma mater, South Carolina State, for four years. Prior to that, she served as an assistant coach at Winston-Salem State for two seasons.
From 1999-2003, Hall was a four-year letter-winner for South Carolina, where she earned numerous honors, including being named the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Offensive and Utility Player of the Year, as well as being selected to several all-tournament teams.
After finishing her collegiate competition at SC State, Hall went on to play three years for the Supersonics, a competitive Class-A women’s slow-pitch softball team based in Warner-Robins, Ga.
A native of Pittsburg, Calif., Hall earned a bachelor of science degree in criminal justice in 2003, and her master’s in rehabilitation counseling. Also, she is a graduate of the NCAA Women’s Coaches Academy.
Courtesy: SWAC
