Kingdom Impact: Mike Hall

KINGDOM IMPACT

MIKE HALL,

beloved teacher, coach, mentor, colleague, friend, and faithful Christian, went home to be with his Heavenly Father on July 30, 2022, after a hard-fought battle against pancreatic cancer.

As an educator, he spent 38 years at seven schools, seven of those years at Legacy. He brought his grateful heart to his fifth-grade science classroom, to the football field, and last year to the corridors in the Primary School as the Assistant Principal.

Coach Hall always had his trademark blue guitar at the ready to bring light and life to those around him. At times he would just sit in his office and play, providing a sense of peace and comfort to anyone within earshot. Not only was he a talented guitar player, but he also had a beautiful voice. In the spring, he visited each of the third-grade classrooms as part of their unit on the book Because of Winn Dixie. It was such a treat for the students as they listened in awe of his talent.

Andrew Wetzel, now a freshman, had Mike Hall as a teacher for fifth-grade and later as a football coach. He distinctly remembers Coach breaking out his guitar: “It was great watching Mr. Hall tie his love of music to his teaching,” Andrew says, “especially during Bible class. He would sing songs of praise and worship. It definitely had an influence on me to become involved in the worship team here at Legacy.” He also recalls the different devotionals: “It was a perfect way to start each day,” said Andrew, “prayer and scripture, and then football.”

Billy Graham once said, “A coach will impact more people in one year than the average person will in an entire lifetime.” Considering that Coach Hall was involved for three decades in just about every sport (football, basketball, softball, track) in addition to his teaching and leadership, his impact is surely immeasurable.

Coach Hall was a friend to all, and he had a way of letting people know they were not only seen but also important, not just to him, but to Him. He mentored some of the most experienced coaches. Phil Parlin worked alongside him during Mike’s final year of coaching. Despite 30 years of coaching himself, Mr. Parlin says he learned a lot from Coach Hall in just that one year. After Mike’s passing, he stole a few minutes to sit quietly in Coach Hall’s office. “It was a special moment,” he said. “Looking around his office and seeing the photos everywhere, you could tell he had an impact on people. We need more guys like Mike Hall.”

Coach Hall was a fighter. When he was a young man of only 23, he was diagnosed with stage 4 Hodgkin’s lymphoma and given a meager 15 percent chance of survival. He prayed fervently for his healing and one day announced to his doctors that he wouldn’t be completing his radiation treatments. And, miraculously, he was healed. God had bigger plans for Coach.

Mike Hall was an incredibly dedicated family man. Not long after his stint with Hodgkin’s, he met the woman who would become his wife. He was very candid with Raylene about his cancer treatment, and that the chances of him being able to father children were slim to none. The couple not only prayed to the Lord for a family, but they also believed He would bless them with children. And so He did. Kristi was born first, followed by Tiffani. God had bigger plans for Coach.

Then, in May 2007, he was diagnosed with a vestibular schwannoma, which is a benign tumor, that was wrapped around the auditory canal of his right ear and embedded itself in his brain. He endured a 16-hour brain surgery and experienced some hearing loss, but he recovered. God had bigger plans for Coach.

His third bout with cancer came in 2010, when he was diagnosed with melanoma. Once again, he fought for his health and won the battle. God had bigger plans for Coach.

“He always defied the odds and didn’t let anything keep him down,” said Raylene Hall. Her husband was unequivocally a man of faith. “He always knew and believed that God was preparing the way,” she said, “before he even knew what way needed to be prepared.”

In April of this year, Coach Hall was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. As a survivor three times over, he knew the journey that lay ahead would be difficult, but he was steadfast in his faith and proclaimed that this would be another opportunity for an awesome testimony. When Coach told his Legacy family of his diagnosis, the prayers and support from the community were like a wave of faith and love that washed over him and the entire Hall family. LCA students, parents, and staff answered the call to fight with Team Mike shirts emblazoned with the purple ribbon, the symbol for pancreatic cancer. As he continued to fight, his Legacy family lifted him and supported him in every way they could imagine. Within a couple of months, the Halls had more than 150 visitors to their home. Some came to sing praise and worship songs with and over him, some brought him special mementos, and others came simply to sit and have a quiet moment with a man they revered and loved dearly.

When Coach Hall was asked about his favorite memory during his time at LCA, unsurprisingly it was the 2008 State semifinal football game at Baylor’s Floyd Casey Stadium. It was an extremely hardfought game that came down to a defensive stop on a two-point conversion. It wasn’t the win that captured his memory, however. “The best part,” he said, “was when the opposing coach told me how impressed he was with the character of our players.” Coach Hall was a man of impeccable character, and that his players displayed that same trait was the real victory for him.

As Mr. Hall neared the end, he had a sense of excitement about him. Surrounded by loved ones who continued to pray over him, his final words —“Let’s go” — were uttered with a sense of profound peace and confidence as he knew he was about to enter God’s eternal kingdom. He served his Father well, and his faith never wavered. Coach Hall was a blessing to all who knew him, and his Kingdom impact will be felt for generations to come. Coach Hall with his family

Lower School Faculty and Staff showing their support for Coach, wearing their “Team Mike” shirts

COACH HALL – A FAITH-FILLED FRIEND

Coach Hall was an amazing friend during my Middle School days, and we continued to have a close relationship after he retired from coaching. What I always admired was his love for football — and for the Lord.

I had the honor of playing quarterback in the seventh and eighth grades, and every morning he was ready to work with his boonie hat and those shorts that went over his knees. No matter how cold it was or how early in the day, he was happy simply to go to practice. But what made him a great coach was that no matter what happened during the game or what the final score was, he never looked disappointed or angry with our team because he was just happy we got to play.

In the years I played for him, we didn’t have the best record. I was quite competitive and would get upset whenever we lost a game. Coach Hall gave me some advice I’ll never forget: He told me to give everything I have in the game because I might not have another chance. He went on to tell me that when he was young, doctors said he had about a 15 percent chance to live, and he fought hard. After that experience, he lived life to the fullest because Jesus was with him through it all.

A few weeks before he passed away, some teammates and I went to visit him. He had just finished chemo and we knew he might not be feeling well. When we walked into his house, the first thing we saw was his smile and how happy he was that we had come to see him. He had the same attitude he had when he was coaching me. He wasn’t afraid because if this was his last day, he knew where he was heading.

I’ve never known anyone so filled with joy to finally meet Jesus.

Coach Hall was an inspiration, not only because of his coaching, but also because of the faithful man he was and the amazing friend he was to everyone.

—Ian Pulte ’25

Top: Ian drew a special portrait for Coach Hall based on this photo of their time together

MIKE HALL KINGDOM IMPACT

Adam Beck ’13:

Coach Hall is no doubt one of the greatest mentors and men I’ve gotten to know. We met when I was in eighth grade and our relationship grew past his time at Legacy, until his final days before going home to the Lord. Although he was an extremely talented and successful football coach, I came to know him more as a life coach. He filled each practice, workout, and conversation with advice that went far beyond sports and touched aspects of a Christ-centered life, what servant leadership looked like, and how a true man treats everyone he interacts with. His love, compassion, and interest in others were all things I picked up on and have tried to implement in my life. You couldn’t help but feel heard and cared for when you spent time with him. That’s a trait few are able to convey with sincerity, and Coach Hall was the best at it. His continued interest in the lives of others, their families, and their growth after he finished being their coach or teacher revealed his heart. I count myself lucky to have learned so much from a man like him. Coach Hall always left every place better than he found it — my life is just one example of thousands that are proof of that.

Blake Snider #78, takes the field alongside Coach Hall and several teammates

Blake Snider ’10:

Coach Hall came to Legacy during my junior year and changed my life forever. Coach Hall was the first coach to tell me I could play Division 1 football and he was going to help me get there. We went from being a team that didn’t make the playoffs to two State championships. He brought the Legacy football program to heights we never thought we could achieve. He coached us hard on the field but taught us to be great Godly men off the field. I still lean on the life lessons Coach Hall taught me as a young man. I feel blessed that I was able to play for a great man of faith.

Coach Hall pledges with the seventh-grade team during his final year of coaching football Legacy students showed an outpouring of love and support for Coach Hall and his family with encouraging messages

MIKE HALL KINGDOM IMPACT

Earlier this year, Coach Hall visited the third-grade classes and sang for them as the character Otis from the book Because of Winn-Dixie

Nina Majerus (seventh-grade teacher):

I first met Mike Hall when he was hired mid-year to be the aide in our ever-increasing-in-size fifth-grade class. I’m not sure he knew what he was getting himself into when he accepted the job, but he seamlessly joined our all-female, type-A teaching team. He spent his days doing any number of random tasks, from grading papers, to helping the student who needed some extra love that day, to mediating the very competitive recess football game. Over the years, he became much more than a colleague — he was a friend, a fill-in grandparent for my daughter during Grandparents Day, and a mentor to me. He would always make time to be a sounding board when I needed advice or just to chat about our families. Mike was a “noticer.” He noticed the student who was acting out and knew there must be more going on in his life. He noticed the teacher who needed encouragement through a smile or a kind word. He noticed the parent who was struggling and needed a listening ear. He was fully present when you were with him, engaging, encouraging, and earnestly modeling a life lived for Christ. What a joy it is to know that he’s now fully present with Jesus.

Brooke Levassar (Admissions Coordinator):

Some of my all-time favorite conversations took place over the last three years, when I had the incredible opportunity to work alongside Mike Hall. Our offices were close, and we often got a chance to visit in between busy times during the day. As coaches, football and cheerleading were always a hot topic, as well as parenting two girls, which we had in common. He was several years ahead of me on the parenting path and offered insightful and faithful advice when I didn’t realize I needed to hear it. I don’t remember a day that Mike didn’t have a smile on his face, and as he talked about coaching football or his family, there was a twinkle in his eye. Mike’s love and trust in the Lord were an ever-present part of the conversation. He never missed an opportunity to say he saw God working in his life and the lives of those around him.

Those conversations cemented and grew my faith. His timing was always spot on, and his words were wrapped in wisdom, discernment, and grace. Mike not only touched the lives of the people around him, but he also had an impact on them. I had just a few short years to know Mike, but he left a lifelong imprint on my heart, as I’m sure he did with everyone else. The weight of his absence on earth is heavy, but the joy in knowing that he’s home, healed, and happy is exactly what Mike would have us celebrate. I know now that my interactions with Mike were not by chance. They were Mike living out his faith as an obedient servant to God. In those conversations, the Lord was speaking to me through his good and faithful servant, and that twinkle in Mike’s eye was Jesus.

MIKE HALL KINGDOM IMPACT

Candi Loe (sixth-grade teacher):

In mid-year 2018, the fifth grade started exploding in size, so we were allowed to hire a “teacher’s aide” to help alleviate the stress of having so many students in one class at a time. Several résumés came through our hands, but Mike Hall’s name stood out because I remembered him coaching the varsity football team many years before. During our interview, he was very open and honest about how God was calling him back to North Texas. He hadn’t been in the classroom, but he was very eager to learn whatever he could to help out our team. Just listening to Mike talk about his experiences over the past several years, you could see how much he loved and leaned into God for every aspect of his life. After the interview, our team all felt not just that his love of the Lord and willingness to jump in no matter the capacity would help our team, but also that his servant’s heart would benefit the students in the fifth grade. So Mike joined our team in the late fall of 2018. Immediately he made an impact on our students. They were drawn to his quiet, loving spirit as they shared their burdens and asked Mike to pray with them. It was beautiful to see how God was using him.

At the start of the 2019–2020 school year, the fifth grade had grown to the point that we needed another teacher. Mike was asked and accepted the position of fifth-grade science teacher. This was completely new for him, and he stepped up to the plate ready for an adventure. This year he became the junior high football coach, getting back into his love of sports. When I think back on the year he taught science, what I most vividly remember is that the students hung onto every word he said. He brought his guitar to the classroom and would start the day singing hymns with his class, praising God and teaching by example that loving God and sharing him with others is something to be proud of. Mike was humble and always proclaiming that God blessed him daily; through the brightest of days and the darkest of nights, he praised God without wavering. I believe that God brought Mike back to Legacy because we needed to experience him witness that God is good under all circumstances and remind us that we should praise him loud and often. Mike made me a better teacher and a better Christian because he touched my life. And I’ll forever be grateful for the influence he had on me.

5th grade teaching team Coach Hall, Mrs. Loe, Mrs. Mitchell, and Mrs. Majerus

Kristie Mitchell (fifth-grade teacher):

When Mike joined our Middle School team, in January 2018, we knew he was a keeper. Students were instantly drawn to his caring and compassionate nature and we appreciated him because he did whatever was needed — no job was too big or too small. He loved his family and always had stories to tell at lunch about the grandkids he adored. Mike was one in a million and he’s greatly missed.

Luke Lawrence (’26):

Coach Hall was a kind and a good mentor. I liked his calmness but he also knew when to be firm with us. I remember in science class he would tell us his life stories and play the guitar for us. Doing the morning football devotions was special and something I miss. I’m grateful I knew him and know he’s with Jesus now.

Coach Hall talks strategy with QB Luke Lawrence

Lily-True Lenci ’26:

I met Mr. Hall in my fifth-grade year. It was my first full year at LCA and it was hard being the new, shy kid but he helped me and a lot of my classmates come out of our shells and be comfortable in our own skin. The first project we were ever given in his class was an “About Me” presentation and I, of course, forgot to prepare anything. When I told Mr. Hall this, his response was, “I know you can do this because you know yourself.” I walked up to the front of the classroom and went through the usual things: my age, my name, where I’m from, but then I ran out of stuff to say. “Keep going,” he said, encouraging me. Without thinking, I simply said “I like apples.” The class laughed (probably not as much as I thought) but boy, did I feel cool. I couldn’t stop talking and, for a second, the shy girl was gone. After 10 minutes of talking, Mr. Hall told me I did well, but I should probably sit down. From that day on I was a little more confident. Mr. Hall made all his students feel special, whether it was with encouraging words, tough love, or just hugs in the halls. You always knew someone knew you and you were seen. I’ve seen the impact he had on my friends and my classmates. In everything he did, he made people feel noticed and loved. His actions reflected God’s love and light and he will always hold a special place in my heart.

A GREAT EXAMPLE

Coach Hall filled countless roles in his time at Legacy. One of the lesser-known aspects of his job as Assistant Principal in the Lower School was to interview new families as part of the admissions process. Coach Hall prepared extensively for each interview and entered into these meetings with a joyful and Godly heart.

“Ever since we first met Coach, as part of the interview process,” says Kate Onstead, “he just exuded faith, love, and integrity.” The Onstead family connected instantly with Coach during their initial visit. After daughter Katherine started Kindergarten, she loved seeing him in the carline and his familiar and calming presence was always welcome. One day Coach Hall even filled in for Katherine’s teacher, Mrs. White. That day, he talked about his testimony of cancer survival with Katherine’s class and reminded them that “God is a God of miracles.”

When Coach fell ill, Katherine naturally had a lot of questions. His absence from carline was noticeable, and his absence from school was noticeable. Katherine’s mom explained that Coach was sick and that he needed to take some time away. The family prayed for him every night, as so many other Legacy families did.

One quiet afternoon, mother and daughter were sitting together at the kitchen table, just as they had done countless other times. Kate’s heart was heavy as she prepared to tell her daughter that Coach Hall had passed. She said, “You remember that Coach Hall has been sick?”

Uneasily, Katherine said yes.

“Well, honey,” said Kate, “our sweet Coach Hall went home to be with Jesus. You know he really loved Jesus.”

Then a soulful 6-year-old Katherine, said, “Yes. He really loved Jesus. He’s a great example.”

There the two of them sat, at the kitchen table, praying together. They talked about what it means to love God and accept him into your heart. “It was totally a God thing,” says Mrs. Onstead. During that innocent conversation, her sweet young daughter made insightful and surprising comments and ultimately made the decision that she was ready to love the Lord and accept him into her heart as her Lord and Savior. Katherine summed it up all on her own: “Coach Hall is a great example.”

He’s a great example, indeed, and lives are forever better because of him.