Remembering Brent Hall, A Championship High School Coach Who Championed Team Unity

“Tough. Gritty. Winner. That’s what he instilled in all of us,” – John Brantley.

By BUDDY MARTIN

GatorBaitMedia.com Editor

Scot Brantley remembers him for being “happy.” Odd, because most everybody who played for Brent Hall feared his wrath.

On the other hand, the former linebacker for the Florida Gators and Tampa Bay Bucs feared almost nobody – but greatly respected his former high school coach, admired his discipline and loved his teachings about life.

Hall, 86, died a few days ago after a long illness. He was remembered as a beloved championship coach who came to Ocala and put Forest High on the map by winning back-to-back state championships in 1974 and 1975. He then went on to become Belleview High School’s first coach.

Scot’s brother John, a Wildcat and Gator quarterback, remembers his old Forest High School coach as a fire-breather.

“Tough. Gritty. Winner. That’s what he instilled in all of us,” said John, the head coach at Trinity Catholic. But he also understands his brother’s reference to Hall as “happy.”

“I can see the funny part,” said John, who played quarterback for the two-time state championship Wildcats. “Because he knew what he had. He had a bunch of good players. He knew he had some good teams.

“And at the end of the day when he left that field house to go home, he knew he had a good product. And that’s what we all try to do, as coaches, to put together a bunch of kids and to build a team. And not a ‘me’ situation, which is the toughest thing coaches are having to deal with right now.”

John said he was with his former coach at the end through most of his final days and one thing they talked about was how different the players were today.

“He knew he couldn’t coach today,” said John. “The way they kids are. And I tend to agree. We all have to make adjustments. But I’m going to tell you, he had a lot to be proud of and he left his legacy here in Ocala.”

Among the things in Hall’s legacy, aside from the titles at Forest, was having the stadium at Belleview named after him.

As the Brantley brothers harkened back to those days, they agreed they were not a team of stars under Hall – but mostly underachievers.

“Other than Scot and linebacker Russell Kirk, we didn’t have many athletes who went on to play college or pro ball,” said John. “You gotta give coach Hall and his staff credit. They were about

unity and building a team.”

John noted that while he coaches at a private, parochial school, “I’m a product of the public school system – and our Marion County haven’t won a state championship since Dunnellon did it in 1979.”

There were sweet reminiscences, but it was a sad occasion – especially for the Brantleys.

“At least I was able to be with him to almost the end – right up to those last few days,” John said remorsefully. “He’d tell you he was ready to meet his maker. He had a great run. He had a great life. He’s got a great family.”

According to the FHSAA records:

He already had a long and distinguished career before coming out of retirement to coach at Belleview, where he would finish his career. In fact, Hall won a state title at Jefferson County (Monticello) in 1966 where he coached Gator great and NFL Hall of Famer Jack Youngblood before coming to Ocala.

Hall was named the Florida Athletic Coaches Association Coach of the Year in 1966, 1974, 1975 and 2000. He was named the head coach of the Florida All-Star Team for the 2001 Florida-Georgia All-Star. Hall's coaching career also included stints as an assistant coach at Suwannee (Live Oak), Leon (Tallahassee), Merritt Island, Choctawhatchee (Fort Walton Beach) and Seabreeze (Daytona Beach) high schools. He also served as assistant principal at Godby High School in Tallahassee.

“Tough. Gritty. Winner. That’s what he instilled in all of us,”

In January 2002, Hall was inducted into the FACA Hall of Fame. Hall was born in Morgan County, Ohio and graduated from Marietta College.