Illinois officially announced the hiring of Jenna Hall as the third softball head coach in program history on Tuesday morning

By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Staff Writer

June 2, 2026

(Cover photo courtesy Justin McLeod)

CHAMPAIGN — The rebuild of the University of Illinois softball operation will be conducted by one of the most accomplished former players in program history.

Illinois officially announced the hiring of Jenna Hall as the third softball head coach in program history on Tuesday morning as the former Ohio University head coach accepted a five-year contract after her recommendation was made by Illinois senior woman administrator Sara Burton to Illini athletics director Josh Whitman.

“Not only is Jenna among the great players in our program's history, but she has established herself as one of the country's up-and-coming head coaches,” Whitman said in a university release. “With assistant coaching experience in the Big Ten and the ACC, and now success as a head coach in the Mid-American Conference, Jenna is well prepared to lead the program at her alma mater. I am excited to see the impact Jenna will have on our student-athletes and the bright future of Fighting Illini softball.”

Hall led the Bobcats to 30 or more wins in each of her four seasons at Ohio University and twice was selected as Mid-American Conference Coach of the Year, posting a combined mark of 138-86 overall, and 73-35 in MAC play. Hall was selected MAC Coach of the Year in her first campaign in 2023 and in 2025, when Ohio completed its third straight runner-up finish while also advancing to the MAC Tournament championship game. This past season, Ohio won 38 games, its most since 2018. In the 2026 campaign Ohio set single-season records in batting average (.335), runs (431), hits (526), RBIs (405), doubles (113) and home runs (91).

“We are thankful for Coach Hall and the last four seasons. She's continued to build our program into a consistent winner, both on and off the field,” Ohio athletics director Slade Larscheid said in a statement. “We wish Jenna nothing but the best moving forward.”

Prior to being hired as a head coach at Ohio, Hall spent three seasons as an assistant coach at the University of Pittsburgh from 2020-22 before seven seasons as an assistant coach at Ohio State from 2013-19, where the Buckeyes made four consecutive NCAA regional appearances.

Burton led the search for the Illini’s third-ever softball head coach after Whitman elected to terminate Tyra Perry after the Illini finished the 2026 season at 15-39 overall with a last-place finish in a 17-team Big Ten Conference after a 3-20 league mark. Perry suffered three consecutive disappointing seasons to conclude her time with the Illini where the program went 58-98 overall and 16-50 in Big Ten Conference play.

Hall was always at the top of Burton’s initial list of candidates for the opening. Hall, who played from 2003-06, closed her Illini playing career as the all-time program leader in batting average (.357), on-base percentage (.486), slugging percentage (.580), home runs (33), RBI (142), walks (148) and total bases (361). Following her collegiate career, Hall played professionally for three seasons with the Philadelphia Force and was selected to the National Pro Fastpitch League All-Star team in her first season. Hall was inducted into the Illinois Athletics Hall of Fame in 2019 and the Minooka, Ill. native should have immediate credibility to the high school and top in-state travel softball coaches.

“I want to thank Josh Whitman, Sara Burton, and the University of Illinois for trusting in me to lead this softball program," Hall said via a university statement. “Illinois has meant the world to me since I stepped foot on campus as a freshman. To be able to return to the place that started it all is a dream come true. I have always been extremely proud to be an Illini, and I can't wait to wear the orange and blue once again.”

The rebuild of a program that has reached a NCAA regional just once since 2020 starts now for Hall as the softball transfer portal window officially opens on Monday, immediately following the crowning of a national champion on Sunday in Oklahoma City, and remains open for 15 days until June 22. Graduate students and players whose teams have endured a coaching change are free to immediately enter the portal and immediately contact other programs directly.