PRINCESS ANNE, MD-The University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES) has appointed Kirkland
J. Hall as the new Head Softball Coach. Hall replaces Barbara S. Hicks who has resigned to
accept an administrative position within the department. In her new position Hicks will be responsible for facility
management and procurement.
Kirkland Hall
Hall stepped in mid-way through the 2004 softball season as Assistant Coach and has been promoted to Head
Softball Coach, beginning those duties immediately. While no stranger to UMES, Hall is no stranger to softball
either, having served as Head Coach from 1994-1997. He amassed an 88-69 record in those four seasons.
While the record is impressive, equally impressive are his accomplishments. Hall took over after the 1993 season
earning a 25-22 record, a perfect 12-0 in the conference, rebuilding, almost immediately, a team that went 8-29 one
year before. He took the Lady Hawks all the way to the MEAC Tournament Championship game before falling to
Florida A & M, 6-3. That same year he placed two players on the All-Tournament Team, including Robin Pettit,
who was inducted into the UMES Athletic Hall of Fame earlier this year. In the 1995 season he improved on his
record, this time going 27-18 and earning a third place finish in the Championship Tournament.
"It was ten years ago that I was put in an almost identical situation with the UMES softball program. However, a lot
has changed over that time, softball has drastically improved, and it is going to take quite an effort on my part and
the parts' of the student athletes to make it even better. It is definitely going to be a challenge, but one that I am
looking forward to meeting head on and reestablishing this program as a MEAC contender. I am excited to be
coaching again, it's in my blood and I have always enjoyed doing it," said new Head Coach Kirkland Hall.
Coach Hall has served the Athletic Department in a variety of roles, first as an alumnus of the University and in a
variety of positions including Athletic Director during the 1980's, Head Baseball Coach, Head Basketball Coach,
Assistant Football Coach, Head Tennis Coach, and Head Swimming Coach. Just last year Hall served as Acting
Facility Director. He will name his Assistant Coach at a later date.
Hall takes over for Barbara Hicks who spent four seasons at the helm of UMES softball. Under her direction the
program was competitive, including such accomplishments as placing Lindsay Poss on the All-MEAC team in 2003
and having a ten win campaign that same season. Hicks introduced 'fall ball' to the program, a non-competitive fall
season.
"Although I will miss some aspects of coaching softball I am extremely excited to accept this new post. I am
thrilled to begin my administrative career under Mr. Townsend's direction. He has an incredible vision for the
department and I am looking forward to working with him to help move UMES to the top of the MEAC
conference," said Hicks. "Accepting this position is a great move for myself, my husband Gary, and our two
children, Kelsey and Cooper. It allows me to spend more time with them and gives me a chance to begin a new
phase of my career."
Prior to coming to UMES Hicks was the Head Softball Coach at Hartwick College in Oneonta, NY.
