Following a nationwide search, Millersville University Director of Athletics Miles Gallagher has named Colgate assistant Sharay Hall the Marauders’ new women’s basketball coach.
Hall is the 16th head coach for a program that started in 1918 and has posted an outstanding .622 winning percent over the last 40 years. Hall takes the reigns of the program from legendary coach Mary Fleig, who retired after leading the Marauders to nine NCAA Tournaments and winning seven PSAC East titles in 30 seasons.
With a foundation in the PSAC and experience coaching at all three NCAA divisions, Hall most recently served in the Patriot League with former Bloomsburg coach Bill Cleary at Colgate, helping the Raiders to a 19-11 record and their most successful season in 16 years. During the season, she was named to the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) Thirty Under 30, which recognizes up-and-coming coaches under the age of 30 who have exemplified their involvement in community service, mentorship and impact on others, professional manner, and attitude and professional association involvement.
“While getting to know Coach Hall, it was clear that her leadership, values and vision for the program aligned with Millersville University and the athletic department,” said Gallagher. “In addition to her experience as a successful coach and player and intimate knowledge of the PSAC, she has all the intangibles that you can’t teach to be a successful head coach. She has successfully recruited Pennsylvania and the mid-Atlantic region throughout her career and understands the importance of finding the right student-athletes for the team and the University. She is going to relate to students and their families during the recruiting process. Millersville women’s basketball has a storied tradition, and we believe that Coach Hall will build upon that.”
“First and foremost, I would like to thank Millersville University as well as the athletic department for believing in my vision, beliefs and values as a head coach,” said Hall. “It is truly an honor to return to the PSAC where I have created lifelong friendships and relationships as a player and coach. I have prepared in my coaching career for this moment–to return close to home. I take pride in leading this program back to a high stature of competing, winning, and preparing young women to become successful leaders in our society. I have a genuine feeling of being home.”
Born and raised in Philadelphia, Hall became an All-PSAC East selection at Lock Haven University for Millersville alum Jennifer Smith. After graduating with a degree in psychology in 2012, Hall stayed on the Lock Haven staff as a student assistant while earning a master’s degree in sports and exercise psychology.
Hall continued to build her coaching career with stops at Clarion, Frostburg State and W.Va. Wesleyan before becoming the head coach of a young team at Pitt-Bradford in 2017-18. In two seasons, Hall’s teams went 27-24, including 21-15 in conference play with a pair of conference semifinal appearances. After the 2018-19 season, she jumped at the opportunity to work at the Division I level. With Colgate, Hall experienced a berth into the Patriot League playoffs and recruited at a national level, identifying student-athletes who fit the academic and athletic profile of the program and university. Responsible for coaching the guards, Hall helped Rachel Thompson to an All-Patriot League First Team selection and Alexa Brodie to a spot on the All-Rookie Team.
Building off her experiences as a player in the PSAC and as a coach at three levels, Hall hopes to build Millersville into a team that plays with pace and dictates the game with its defense.
“My vision is to develop and create a team who plays up-tempo with intensity both offensively and defensively,” said Hall. “Our defensive energy will carry over to our offensive mindset and the small principles and strategies of our defense will lead to big moments and game-changing plays. Our team will play with discipline, high intensity, passion, mental toughness and all will be proud to be a Marauder.”
Hall inherits a team that went 8-19 but returns Millersville’s all-time leading scorer and 2019 PSAC East Athlete of the Year Lauren Lister, who ranked third in the nation in scoring average last season.
Photo Courtesy Millersville Athletics
Tagged with: D2 PSAC
