UC names new women's coach

The University of Cincinnati has a new women's head basketball coach. James Kelley Hall will replace the retiring Laurie Pirtle, who left after coaching 21 years at UC.

UC Athletic Director Mike Thomas said he is thrilled to have Hall running the women's basketball program.

"Hall brings a base to the program with some energy, and some charisma, which will help us in the community, and help us sell tickets," Thomas said.

Although some of the players just met their new basketball coach, they're impressed with their new leader.

"I am very excited," sophomore guard Shelly Bellman said. "He's very confident, and obviously he wants to win, which is what we're here for."

Hall has spent the last five years at the University of Louisiana-Lafayette, and led the Rajin' Cajuns to the NCAA Tournament this past season.

Hall's career coaching record is 290-118, which includes being named the 2005 Sun Belt Conference Coach of the Year.

Before becoming head coach at Louisiana-Lafayette, Hall was the recruiting coordinator at the University of Louisville (2000-2002), Auburn University (1996-2000), California State Fullerton (1994-1996), Mississippi State University (1992-1994), University of Alabama (1983-1984) and his alma mater Troy University (1982-1983).

Hall has guided six teams to the NCAA Tournament, and one team to the women's National Invitational Tournament.

Hall has coached six All-Americans, 10 All-Southeastern Conference, student-athletes and one NCAA scoring champion.

The Carl E. Linder Varsity Village, and the opportunity to coach in the Big East Conference sold Hall on UC.

"This is a job that I've always dreamed of, competing on the highest level, in the best conference in the country, the Big East," Hall said. "And once I got here and I saw this facility, it just blew me away. I know in my heart that if we can get a kid on campus, we're going to sign them."

Hall has lofty goals for the Bearcats, and believes the Bearcats can compete with Big East powerhouses such as Rutgers University, and University of Connecticut

"I was looking for a job that has the utmost potential, for a chance to win a National Championship," Hall said.

A hard nose, fast pace team is what UC fans can expect with Hall running the show.

"We want to be more athletic, we want kids that can go up and down," Hall said. "My teams, I can promise you this, they will play hard, they will play defense and they will rebound the basketball."

Hall, a 48 year-old native of Selma Ala., is married to Meredith Hall, a former WNBA player for the Washington Mystics. Meredith Hall has served as an assistant coach on her husband's staff, and has spent the last season as the co-head coach at Louisiana-Lafayette, although she will not continue to coach at UC.

J. Kelley and Meredith Hall have two daughters 4-year-old Brynley Michelle, 3-year-old Jordyn Kelle, and a boy on the way.