Emma Frid

Solon Comet’s new football coach Antonio Hall.

After last year’s football season ended before playoffs, the athletic department made an executive decision to hire a new football coach. After being approved by Principal Erin Short, Athletic Director Brian McQuaide and Superintendent Fred Boldren, the board of education hired Antonio Hall.

Hall became successful prior to college.

“I was born in Canton, Ohio,” Hall said. “I played for Canton McKinley and was a member of the 1997 National Championship team.”

​Hall played college football at the University of Kentucky, where he achieved many awards. ​

“I was awarded All-SEC a couple of times, also Honorable Mention All-American, and then I played with the Indianapolis Colts for a season,” Hall said. “Then I played six years professionally in Canada, and then I got into coaching.” ​

Recruiting a new football coach was a lengthy and extensive process. McQuaide said that he feels positive about the new hire. ​

“The thing that really impressed us was that he has a very specific plan on how to get the guys better, as players, as students and as people,” McQuaide said. “He isn’t just laying a foundation that’s about when they’re here right now, it’s about what they’re gonna be like 10, 15, 20 years from now.” ​

Hall stood out compared to the rest of the candidates, McQuaide said.

“Out of all of the candidates, he had the most hands-on experience in all aspects of football,” McQuaide said.

Junior Spencer Kramer said that Coach Hall is introducing a new management system. ​

“He created a whole point system, in which you lose points for being late or not being dressed correctly,” Kramer said. “Then there are awards that come with the points, the order you pick your jersey, being named a captain, or even if you can go to spring games or camps.” ​

The point system is supposed to be a way to show players that there are many important things that come into play with football, Hall said. ​

“The point system gives them incentives to [put their best effort forth at practice] do so until it becomes second nature to them,” Hall said. “There is nothing not important about football— being on time, your mindset, the rest and diet, so the point system prepares you for this and ultimately helps the players stay accountable.” ​

Since the new football coach has arrived on the team, the atmosphere has changed, said junior Brady Bush. ​

“I noticed that a lot more people started showing up to before-school workouts than before and everyone seems to be putting in more effort,” Bush said. ​

The football team lacked chemistry and connection last season, Kramer said. ​

“I think our team had a lot of egos, and we didn’t play together as a team,” Kramer said. “I think that if we had more trust in each other and our coaches, we could have won more games.” ​

Bush said that the team needs to work on staying positive throughout the game. ​

“I think last year we lost a couple of games and started to lose faith,” Bush said. “Then we just gave up on the second half of the season.” ​

After watching Solon’s football film, Coach Hall said he looks to what the team needs to improve on. ​

“The team needs to work on finishing the games and playing as hard in the fourth quarter as they did in the first quarter,” Hall said. ​

Junior quarterback Brody Cowan said that Coach Hall is bringing aspects to the team that the team needs. ​

“Coach Hall is a great mentor at the O line, somewhere we lacked last season,” Cowan said. “He also brings football knowledge and stability going into next year.” ​

Last season, the Solon Comets, had a record below 500, and were 1-6 in their conference. ​

“As a team, our goal should be to win the conference and have a record of at least 500 or over,” Bush said. ​

Coach Hall began working full time at Solon on Feb. 2 and starting to learn how to manage the athletic department. ​

“Eventually, he will replace me as the athletic director at the end of July 2027,” McQuaide said.

Coach Hall is ready to start the pre-season training and advance the team further than last season. ​

“Like any team, we’re as strong as our weakest link, and we’re as successful as our least committed guy,” Hall said. “So everybody has to be in that team mindset.” ​