About Coach Hal Wilson, Ph.D.

A Quick Note From Hal–
Thank you for making the time to visit. Some people ask me why I call myself “Coach” and not “Dr.” since I have my Ph.D. Well, I call myself “Coach” because, to me, there is no sweeter sounding title! In fact, the two most influential people in my life (other than my family) were my high school football coach and my college basketball coach. I try to share the lessons they taught me with other people every day!

Coach Hal Wilson’s Bio-
An internationally-recognized expert in leadership development and coaching, Coach Hal Wilson is currently a tenured Associate Professor at Georgia Southern University. He is a Certified Diversity Executive and led several diversity efforts across campus as an Inclusive Excellence Faculty Fellow. Wilson has nearly 100 presentations, articles, and book chapters around the world since becoming a professor and is on the editorial board of the the Journal of Athlete Development and Experience. Prior to moving into higher education, Wilson gained extensive coaching experience at many levels. In fact, 13 of his players went on to play professionally, including NBA lottery pick Marcus Haislip and NBA 2nd round pick Vincent Yarbrough, 24 high school players coached went on to play collegiately, and 6 of his assistant coaches eventually became head coaches. Wilson also gained valuable experience working numerous camps in 12 states across the country, including at the University of Michigan, Clemson University, North Carolina State University, the University of Dayton, George Mason University, and many more.

In 2014, Wilson was hired in Georgia Southern University’s #2 ranked Coaching Education program in the nation. Most recently, he is serving as a tenured Associate Professor of Coaching Education, Coaching Minor Coordinator, Coaching Lab Director, Inclusive Excellence Faculty Fellow, & Affiliate Faculty of the Center for Rehabilitation and Independent Living where he focuses on Adaptive Sport including wounded warriors. Wilson has worked with thousands of coaches at many levels (professional, collegiate, interscholastic, youth, & military) and sports (baseball, basketball, competitive cheerleading, cross country, equestrian, football, martial arts, soccer, softball, strength & conditioning, swimming and diving, tactical conditioning, tennis, track and field, & wrestling). Wilson has consulted with teams and coaches at all levels including USA Basketball, NCAA DI, NAIA, high schools, and middle schools. In fact, USA Basketball invited him to speak nine times at their national Coach Academies and regional Player Camps and attend National Team and Junior National Team training camps. Wilson also served on the Board of Directors of the United States Center for Coaching Excellence (USCCE), the national leader in coach development in the country, and serves on the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) Research Committee.

Wilson’s work in higher education has been recognized many times, including being honored with the 2021 Johnson/Bradley Torch Bearer Award for Inclusion, Equity, & Access, the 2020 Waters College of Health Professions Senior Teaching Award, the 2018 Waters College of Health Professions Award for Service, and the 2014 University of Tennessee Chancellor’s Citation for Graduate Student Teaching. A high school teacher for 12 years, Wilson was also recognized for his teaching at the secondary level in 2006.

At Bulloch (GA) Academy, Wilson assumed the head coaching duties In 2017-2018, while also serving as an Assistant Professor of Coaching Education at Georgia Southern University. Wilson led the team with no seniors and only two juniors to the Region Championship game and a state playoff appearance. The three previous seasons Wilson served as an assistant coach, including for the 2015 State Championship- the school’s second in a row. Four BA players would go on to play college basketball.

At North Oconee (GA) High School, Wilson turned around the program, led the Titans to their first-ever state playoff appearance and was named both the school’s all sports Coach of the Year and the Northeast Georgia Boys Basketball Coach of the Year by the Athens Banner-Herald. Wilson developed 2012 Sub-region Player of the Year Nick Colvin, the 2008 Northeast Georgia Player of the Year JaRius Ross, and had two players named to the school’s Hall of Fame (David Firth and Colvin). Former University of Georgia Head Women’s Basketball Coach, and Hall of Famer, Andy Landers’ son played for Wilson. One NOHS player would go on to play college basketball.

At Grayson (GA) High School, Wilson led the team to their first-ever state playoff appearance in 2004, their first-ever in-season tournament championship in Russellville, KY in 2006 and a school record for wins. Wilson developed one All State player in point guard Eric Marshall. Seven GHS players would go on to play college basketball and one would play professionally. Wilson was a finalist for the Jack Britt Outstanding Coach Award for all sports and was selected to coach the 2012 Gwinnett County All-Star Game featuring numerous NCAA DI players.

At the University of Tennessee, Wilson served as the Video Coordinator from 1999-2002 and collected two NCAA tournament appearances, one NCAA Sweet 16 berth, a school-record for wins, a national ranking as high as #4, won the Rainbow Classic in Honolulu, and won the school’s first SEC regular season championship in 18 years under Head Coaches Jerry Green and Buzz Peterson. While in Knoxville, Wilson worked with three McDonald’s All-Americans (Tony Harris, Charles Hathaway, and Vincent Yarbrough), two NBA draft picks (Marcus Haislip & Yarbrough), and two eventual SEC Legends (Ron Slay and Yarbrough). Eleven UT players would go on to play professional basketball. Three assistant coaches from UT went on to become NCAA DI head coaches.

At East Burke (NC) High School, Wilson served as an assistant coach as the Cavaliers won the school’s first-ever Sectional championship, set a school-record for wins, won the Brogden Holiday Tournament, and were ranked as high as #1 by the Charlotte Observer. Two EBHS players were named McDonald’s All-Americans and All-State: Martin Ides and Brandon Hawkins. Ides would go on to be a key player on Davidson College’s 2002 NCAA tournament team and Hawkins was a fixture and 1,000 point scorer at East Carolina University. In total, six East Burke players would go to college to play basketball, including Junior College All-American Jeremy Yancey, and two would play professionally.

At UNC Wilmington, Wilson served as a manager, walk-on player, and student assistant in three seasons with Head Coach Jerry Wainwright’s program. During this stretch, the Seahawks won the school’s first Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) championship in 1997, the 1996 Bow Tie Classic championship, and the 1994 USAir East Coast Classic. Wilson worked with Bill Mayhew, who is one of the most decorated athletes in school history by earning All CAA first team and CAA All-Defensive Team honors in 1997, winning the CAA”s prestigious Dean Ehler’s Leadership Award, had his jersey retired, and selection to the UNCW Athletic Hall of Fame. Wilson also crossed paths with renowned basketball trainer Ganon Baker who was a senior of the 1995 team. Two assistant coaches and two players from UNCW eventually became NCAA DI head coaches.

Wilson played football, basketball, and baseball at Western Guilford (NC) High School and was named a NCHSAA Scholar Athlete before heading to UNC Wilmington where he earned a B.A. in English in 1997. At the University of Tennessee, Wilson completed his M.S. in Human Performance and Sport Studies in 2001 and a Ph.D. in Kinesiology and Sport Studies in 2014.

Wilson has given back to his community as a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) for foster children in the Ogeechee Judicial Circuit and a youth sport coach. He and his wife, Georgia, are the proud parents of two daughters, Gray and Virginia, and one son named Fisher.

Higher Education Timeline
2018-2022: Georgia Southern Univ. (Associate Professor of Coaching Education)
     -2021-present Affiliate Faculty, CRIL
     -2021-2022 Inclusive Excellence Faculty Fellow
     -2021 Johnson/Bradley Torch Bearer Award for Inclusion, Equity, & Access
     -2020 Waters College of Health Professions Senior Teaching Award
     -2019 Project Play Champion (national award for entire program)
     -2018 Waters College of Health Professions Award for Service
2014-2018: Georgia Southern Univ. (Assistant Professor of Coaching Education)
2012-2014: Univ. of Tennessee (Graduate Teaching Associate)
     -2014 Chancellor’s Graduate Student Teaching Citation

Basketball Timeline
2017-2018: Bulloch (GA) Academy (Head Coach)
     -Region finalist & State playoff appearance
2014-2017: Bulloch (GA) Academy (Assistant Coach)
     -2015-2016 Region regular season champion
     -2014-2015 State, Region tournament, & Region regular season Champion
2013-2014: TSSAA Certified Basketball Official
2012-2013: Sacred Heart (TN) Cathedral School (Assistant Coach)
     -2012-2013 KIL Tournament Finalist
2007-2012: North Oconee (GA) High School (Head Coach)
     -2007-2008 Region Finalist, School record wins, & 1st state playoff appearance
     -2008 Northeast Georgia Coach of the Year
     -2008 NOHS All Sports Coach of the Year
2002-2007: Grayson (GA) High School (Head Coach)
    -2006, First holiday tournament championship
    -2005-2006, School record wins (tie)
    -2003-2004, School record wins & State playoff appearance
    -2004 Jack Britt Outstanding Coach Award Finalist (all sports)
1999-2002: Univ. of Tennessee (Video Coordinator)
     -2001 NCAA Tournament
     -2000 Hawaii Holiday Classic Tournament Champions
     -2000 NCAA Tournament Sweet 16
     -1999-2000 SEC & SEC East Champions, School record wins
1997-1999: East Burke (NC) High School (Assistant Coach)
     -1997-1998 NCHSAA Sectional Champions, School record wins, #1 state ranking
1996-1997: UNC Wilmington (Student Coach)
     -CAA Regular Season Champions (1st in school history)
     -1996 Bow Tie Classic Champions
1995-1996: UNC Wilmington (Walk on player)
     -CAA Tournament finalist
     -Played at eventual Final Four teams UMass and Mississippi State
1994-1995: UNC Wilmington (Manager)
     -1994 USAir East Coast Classic Champions