Softball
- Title:
- Head Softball Coach
Jenna Hall was announced as the third head coach in Illinois softball history on June 2, 2026.
She returns to Illinois after spending four seasons as the head coach at Ohio University. Hall led the Bobcats to 30+ win seasons in each of her four years in Athens, and was selected as Mid-American Conference (MAC) Coach of the Year twice. She was selected MAC Coach of the Year after her first campaign in 2023, leading the Bobcats to second place in the conference. Hall earned the honor again in 2025, after Ohio finished MAC runner-up for the third consecutive season and reached the MAC Championship game. She finished her tenure at the helm of the Bobcats with a 138-86 (.616) overall record, including a 73-35 (.676) tally in MAC play. Under her tutelage, three players received National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) All-Region honors, including 2025 MAC Pitcher of the Year Skipp Miller. This past season, Ohio won 38 games, its most since 2018.
Prior to her first head job at Ohio, she spent three seasons as an assistant coach at Pitt, from 2020-22. While at Pitt, Hall worked primarily with the offense, guiding Yvonne Whaley to a .345 batting average, 45 hits, and All-ACC Third Team honors in 2022. In 2021, her first full season at Pitt, she assisted in improving the team’s offensive power, as the Panthers finished fifth in the ACC in home runs per game (.98), seventh in slugging percentage (.422) and seventh in total homers (45). Individually, she helped Cami Compson to a strong freshman campaign in 2021, hitting .325 with 41 hits, 11 homers, 29 RBI and a .627 slugging percentage. Compson earned NFCA Mid-Atlantic Second Team All-Region, All-ACC Third Team and All-ACC Freshman Team recognition.
Her stint at Pitt followed seven seasons assisting at Ohio State from 2013-19, during which time the Buckeyes made four consecutive NCAA Regional appearances, a program first. She guided Buckeye hitters in setting single-season school records in batting average (.348), home runs (74) and runs scored (380) while coaching four players who finished the season with 40+ RBI in 2015, also a program first. Hall coached three NFCA All-Americans at Ohio State, in Emily Clark (2019), Lili Piper (2017-2019), and Cammi Prantl (2016).
Hall’s first stint at Ohio was a five-season term as an assistant from 2008-12, where she was elevated to associate head coach. She made her coaching debut at Illinois, where she was a student assistant during the 2007 season while finishing her degree.
A native of Channahon, Illinois, Hall starred for the Fighting Illini on the diamond from 2003-06, and remains one of the most decorated offensive players in program history. During her senior campaign in 2006, Hall set single-season program records in batting average (.481), slugging percentage (.847), on-base percentage (.651), and walks (60) that still stand today. Following her final season, she was named an NFCA first-team All-American and selected one of 25 finalists for the USA Softball Player of the Year Award. She also continues to own the Illinois career record for highest on-base percentage (.486), and sits third in career batting average (.357).
Hall was named first-team All-Big Ten four times and NFCA All-Region three times. She helped Illinois to two NCAA postseason appearances, including a trip to the Regional championship game in 2004. Her career accomplishments were recognized in 2019, when she became the first Fighting Illini softball player to be inducted into the University of Illinois Athletics Hall of Fame. Following her collegiate career, Hall played professionally for three seasons with the Philadelphia Force and was selected to the National Pro Fastpitch League All-Star Team in her first season.
Hall graduated from the University of Illinois in 2007 with a degree in U.S. history. Jenna and her wife, Cristina, have three children: Elijah, Jonah and Olivia.
