Coach 'Em Up: The Skip Hall Story

How the Coach Without a Father Became One of America’s Greatest Mentors

A Guide and Handbook to Mentorship, Coaching Leadership, Business Leadership

"A coach will impact more people in one year than the average person will in an entire lifetime." —Billy Graham

Coach Merle “Skip” Hall grew up fatherless yet became a father figure to many football players and coaches as well as business leaders. He coached thousands of players during his tenure as a college football coach and mentored dozens of top college and NFL players and coaches including Mike Lude, Nick Saban, Don James, Jim Zorn, Chuck Pagano. Coach Hall’s life highlights the powerful influence coaches have in the life of an athlete and the transferable principles to business. Football coaches and business leaders, along with mentors, teachers, employers and parents will be encouraged by Skip's example of positive coaching and helping young people develop and grow.

The Coach 'Em Up principles will translate to:

• Create consistency leading to more wins each year
• Avoid the guilt and chaos of negative leadership
• Overcome the challenge of mediocrity
• Empower leadership skills in other leaders, coaches, and colleagues
• Overcome obstacles to success
• Dispel the myth that positivity is a soft skill
• Challenge the cultural norms
• Learn about the power of Don James’ “Thursday Speeches”
• Win more often

As a bonus, Coach ‘Em Up offers a resource section which can be used for pre-game speeches, pre-season planning, vision blueprints, and ideas for annual team themes.

What People Are Saying:

“This book provides an insider look into the world of coaching and business. Coach Hall’s passion for a unique style of coaching comes through loud and clear.” —Chris Petersen, Head Football Coach, University of Washington and Boise State University

“Skip Hall’s performance speaks for itself. His leadership inspires and influences all who are lucky enough to know him. He always went above and beyond to encourage his players and fellow coaches.”—Nick Saban, Head Coach, University of Alabama, seven-time National Champion

“Coach Hall wanted our football team to take on a new identity and culture, a culture of positivity and building relationships. He wanted a culture of accountability that was done the right way—not belittling but building each other up.”—Chuck Pagano, NFL Head Coach, Indianapolis Colts

“It is a true honor to recommend this book. One of the great joys of my life was to play linebacker for the University of Washington Huskies and to be coached by Skip Hall. Not only did he inspire, challenge, and motivate us on the field, he mentored and taught us how to be men of character.”—Mike Rohrbach, Founder and Executive Director of Run to Win, Team Captain of University of Washington football, University of Washington Sports Chaplain

“Don James looked for young energetic coaches with good character. He found that in Skip Hall, who was always kind to everyone and took positive coaching seriously in an era where other football programs weren’t always focused in that direction.”—Carol James, wife of legendary coach Don James

Skip has been a phenomenal coach with an infectious personality since the beginning of our acquaintance in the 1960s. He also proved to be a sensational recruiter over the many years that I have known him. Everyone will learn something from his story.—Mike Lude, former Athletic Director, University of Washington