Adam Hall named Utah Valley University head men’s wrestling coach

OREM, Utah — After nine years as an assistant and associate head wrestling coach at North Carolina State University, Adam Hall, a three-time Idaho state champion and 2006 Bonners Ferry graduate, was recently hired as the head men’s wrestling coach at Utah Valley University.

Hall said it was the right time in his career to make the move, noting that it has always been his dream to be a head coach.

“Everything just kind of came together — coming back West, the connections I know out West, and really just the opportunity to lead a program. The next step professionally for me was becoming a head coach. I have been coaching for a big portion of my life dating back to when I was in college.”

Hall enters the position with a plethora of experience. For the Badgers, he amassed a 169-4 career record and was inducted into the Idaho chapter of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame for his efforts. In addition to his three state titles, he was a four-time district champion and won a national title in Freestyle at the Junior National Championships. He also received various awards while in high school such as the Most Outstanding Wrestler Award, which he received at the High School Senior National Championships, and the Dave Schultz High School Excellence Award, which is presented annually to a male high school senior and is based equally on outstanding wrestling success, scholastic achievement and citizenship or community service.

In college, Hall continued his career at Boise State where he posted a 122-18 career record; 122 wins ranks as the second-most in Boise State wrestling history. He won two Pac-10 titles in the 157-pound weight class and qualified for the NCAA National Championships all four years he competed. Hall also earned All-American honors in 2010 and in 2011 after placing third and fifth, respectively, at the NCAA Championships. After college, Hall continued to excel, placing fifth at the 2012 and 2016 Olympic Trials and by winning his weight class (154 pounds) for Team USA at the 2016 University World Championships in Turkey.

Hall started his coaching career in 2011 as an assistant coach at Columbia University before heading to NC State in 2015. During his tenure with the Wolfpack, NC State has won six ACC Championships (five consecutive) and finished in the top 10 in the NWCA Coaches' Poll for eight consecutive seasons. While Hall has been on staff, NC State has produced 25 All-Americans, 26 ACC Champions, and four top-10 team finishes at the NCAA Championships. Since 2016, the Wolfpack have had five top-5 recruiting classes and seven top-10 classes, proving Hall is a serious recruiter.

“You're only as good as the people you bring in,” Hall said. “That’s recruits, staff, everyone you surround your program with. It’s about bringing in the most high-quality student-athletes possible, and it takes a lot of work to do that. Relationship-building is a big focus of mine … you're selling an idea, a vision, to your current and prospective athletes, and I have already started that here by myself. I’m hoping to bring on some assistant coaches soon.”

Hall mentioned how his recruiting efforts will draw him to the Idaho panhandle more often than not, and although he hasn’t been able to visit his hometown of Bonners Ferry too much, he hopes that changes now that he is a bit closer. Speaking of home, Hall says his coaching style and philosophy is a mix between his former high school and college coaches.

“They were all passionate about teaching and winning in the sport,” Hall said. “I think that was a big deal for me because I’m a passionate person. I care a lot and it pours out in my coaching and my leadership. My style is to lead by example, lead first, and lead with my voice. I’m not afraid to get in the grind with the guys or with my eventual assistant coaches. I think leading by example is a huge opportunity for someone to grow as an individual.”

Hall officially took over the Wolverines’ men’s wrestling program after the conclusion of the NCAA Division I Championships, which were held March 22 in Kansas City, Mo. Utah Valley wrestling competes in the Big 12 conference alongside Iowa State, Oklahoma State, South Dakota State, Missouri, Northern Iowa, West Virginia, Oklahoma, Wyoming, Air Force, Northern Colorado, North Dakota State, and California Baptist. The Wolverines finished 12th out of 13 teams last year and produced one national championship qualifier.