Just as the Tulane Green Wave reached a new peak, they had to find a new leader. With HC Jon Sumrall off to Florida after a 20–7 record in two seasons, Tulane has turned to one of its own. Enter Will Hall, the veteran assistant tasked with keeping the momentum going. He returned last year as the passing-game coordinator and will soon have the head coaching opportunity.

A new chapter is unfolding as the Green Wave heads to the postseason. Hall has coached all over the country, including West Alabama, West Georgia, and Southern Miss. And Tulane sees him as the guy who helped Jake Retzlaff develop into a dual-threat force this season, despite Hall’s 70–50 head coaching record, which includes highs like a Lending Tree Bowl victory and lows like his tough final stretch at Southern Miss.

Who is Will Hall? Early Life and Background

The story of Will Hall’s football career actually starts long before he ever put on a headset. Coached by his father, Bobby Hall, and helping Amory High win a state championship in 1998, he basically thrived on the game while growing up in Amory, Mississippi. He went on to become one of those small-town quarterbacks that consistently kept proving everyone wrong, first at Northwest Mississippi CC, where he effortlessly shattered NJCAA records, and then at North Alabama.

In 2000, he set an NJCAA record for total offense in a season with 4,075 total yards. Additionally, he also set an NJCAA single-game record with nine touchdown passes. In 2003, he dominated Division II football, taking home the Harlon Hill Trophy after an incredible season in which he threw for 3,531 yards and 30 touchdowns.

Will Hall’s Coaching Career Timeline

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Following his playing career, Hall immediately entered the coaching profession, beginning as a quarterback coach at Presbyterian in 2004. Before settling at West Alabama as an OC, he hopped through a few assistant roles, including Henderson State, Southwest Baptist, and Arkansas-Monticello. That’s where everything clicked. After transforming their offense into a machine, he became head coach and won two GSC crowns while building a winning culture.

Hall went 25-11 during his three seasons at West Alabama before taking over at West Georgia. In his next big chapter, Hall went 31-9 during his three seasons with the Wolves, pushed the program to the national spotlight, and won Coach of the Year. He resigned from the position and accepted the OC role to reunite with Mark Hudspeth at Louisiana. In 2020, it was Southern Miss who came knocking, and the 43-year-old was the HC once again.

In the very first year, the Golden Eagles were 3-9, but defense gave up just 358.5 yards per game, #3 in Conference USA and #42 in the country. The very next year, they reached a bowl game for the first time since the 2019 season. Plus, on defense, the unit ranked No. 2 in tackles for loss (8.3 per game), No. 3 nationally in fourth down conversions (.231), No. 4 in sacks (3.38 per game) and defensive touchdowns (4).

Even his recruitment was elite during the time. Over his first three seasons, Hall’s roster had mostly Mississippi players, and the 2023 roster had 71 players, or 66.4 percent of the team, represented by the Magnolia State. Then, from Louisiana to Memphis to Tulane, Hall kept proving he could build and rebuild offenses.

Will Hall’s Wife and Kids

Hall’s has a steady home team, which includes his wife, Rebecca, and their two boys, Tripp and Pete. They are the driving force behind his relentless football grind. They have supported him through every promotion and relocation that comes with playing college football.

Whether it was playoff runs or late nights planning plays at Tulane, his family was there for every chapter. While pursuing this wild profession, Hall frequently credits Rebecca as the true MVP who keeps things together at home.

Why Will Hall Replaces Jon Sumrall at Tulane

The Green Wave chose Will Hall because they needed someone who knew their players and the situation since Jon Sumrall was leaving for Florida following a 20–7 run. Hall has experience with the program from his time as an offensive coordinator in 2019 and was already in charge of the passing game.

Sumrall made the transition easier by staying back to finish the playoff run, reminding everyone why Tulane was important to him.

Sources: Tulane is set to promote veteran assistant coach Will Hall to be the head coach. He’s the former head coach at Southern Miss and worked as Tulane’s OC in 2019-20 and returned as the pass game coordinator last year. pic.twitter.com/nq7xblbCav

— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) December 8, 2025

“I’ve said it a lot. I think just as important, if not more important than how you start at a place, it’s how you finish,” Sumrall shared postgame. “I’m forever indebted to Tulane. I was an assistant coach here over a decade ago. It’s been a complete privilege and honor for me to be the head football coach here.”

He delivered on his promises of championships and a CFP spot, as he stated following the North Texas win. Hall now enters a position that is bursting with momentum and a lot of conviction that he is the right guy to keep this surge alive.