Derrick Hall

Derrick M. Hall
Hall at 2012 Evening on the Diamond
Born	Derrick Martin Hall (1969-02-17) February 17, 1969 Los Angeles, California
Residence	Paradise Valley, Arizona
Alma mater	Arizona State University (B.A.) Ohio University (M.A.)
Occupation	Major League Baseball Executive
Title	President and CEO, Arizona Diamondbacks
Spouse(s)	Amy Hall (m. 1992)
Children	3

Derrick M. Hall (born February 17, 1969) is an American sports executive currently serving as the president and chief executive officer (CEO) of the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Hall joined the Diamondbacks in May 2005 as senior vice president of communications and served in numerous capacities prior to being named president in September 2006 and adding the title of CEO in January 2009. Prior to joining the Diamondbacks, Hall served as senior vice president of the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Fortune 500 company KB Home.

During Hall's tenure, the Diamondbacks have won two National League West Division Championships (2007, '11), a Wild Card (2017), one NLCS (2007).^[1] Hall also negotiated the largest financial transaction in franchise history - a historic 20-year television rights deal with FOX Sports, hosted the Major League Baseball All-Star Game and World Baseball Classic at Chase Field. The corporate culture of the D-backs, which was created by Hall, led Yahoo! and Forbes to deem the club as "the best workplace in sports"^[2] and Rise Global to name Hall to its list of 100 Most Influential CEOs.^{[3] [4]}

Early life and education

Hall was born the youngest of two boys in Los Angeles, California on February 17, 1969 to Arkansas natives, Larry and Annetta Hall. His father worked in the newspaper industry, which caused Derrick to move all over the United States during his childhood. He was raised in a Jewish household.^[5]

Although earning acceptance to the United States Military Academy with a nomination from United States Senator Harry Reid,^[6] Hall attended Arizona State University on a speech and debate scholarship. He went on to receive a bachelor's degree in broadcasting and journalism from Arizona State University, where he was named "Man of the Year" in 1991. Hall later became the first student in school history to receive both ASU's prestigious Founder's Day Alumni Achievement Award and the ASU Young Alumni Achievement Award, which he received in 2003. Hall was inducted into the ASU Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communications Alumni Hall of Fame in 2002.^[7]

He later earned a master's degree from Ohio University in sports administration. In 2006, Ohio University's Sports Administration Program recognized Hall as the 25th recipient of the Charles R. Higgins Distinguished Alumnus Award.^[8] In 2012, he received an honorary Doctorate degree from the University of Phoenix and spoke at the school's convocation.^[9]

Early career

Prior to joining the D-backs, Hall made a brief stop as senior vice president of corporate communications for a Fortune 500 company, KB Home, based in Los Angeles, where he increased brand awareness.^[10] He spent parts of 12 seasons with the Los Angeles Dodgers, joining the organization's Single-A Florida State League affiliate in Vero Beach, Florida, as an intern in 1992 and departed as the club's senior vice president of communications in 2004.^[11]

Hall stepped outside of baseball for employment during the 1999 season, as he hosted a morning talk show on the Dodgers' flagship station (XTRA 1150 AM), served as host of the "Dodger Game Day" pregame radio show, and worked as a weekend sports anchor at KNBC-TV (Ch. 4) in Los Angeles.^[12]

He has also taught as an adjunct professor at the USC Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism and at Arizona State University's Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication.

Diamondbacks under Hall's leadership

Hall's leadership has helped guide the D-backs to two National League West Division Championships (2007, '11), a Wild Card (2017), and one NLCS (2007).^[13] Under Hall's tenure, the organization has hosted the Major League Baseball All-Star Game and World Baseball Classic at Chase Field for the first time ever.^[14]

Derrick Hall with Luis Gonzalez, Mayor Phil Gordon, and military officials at the Major League Baseball All-Star Game

The success of the franchise under Hall has led to numerous honors, including ESPN the Magazine tabbing the D-backs as the top Major League franchise in 2013^[15] and sixth overall among the 122 professional sports franchises in the publication's Ultimate Standings, which is based on eight categories on and off the field. Also, in 2010, the D-backs were given the inaugural United Nations NGO Positive Peace Award,^[16] which named the D-backs the most positive team in the world.

In 2011, Hall unveiled Salt River Fields at Talking Stick,^[17] the D-backs' 140-acre Spring Training facility shared with the Colorado Rockies on Salt River Indian Community land near Scottsdale, Arizona, that he negotiated and designed.

In 2017, the Arizona Diamondbacks Foundation and the D-backs' organization surpassed the $50 million mark in charitable giving since their inception in 1998, including nearly than $40 million under Hall's direction.^[18]

Recognition and other affiliations

The Arizona Republic recently named Hall one of 16 Arizonans to watch, citing his "positive influence [that] grows larger by the year" as someone who "works effortlessly to promote Metro Phoenix and the state."^[19] He was also named by Rise Global to its list of 100 Most Influential CEOs, a group that includes names such as Warren Buffett, Tim Cook, and Larry Ellison.^[20]

Hall currently serves on or is associated with 25 boards,^[21] including the Major League Baseball Diversity Committee, Arizona-Mexico Commission, Young Presidents' Organization, Arizona Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and Cancer Treatment Centers of America. Hall, who is the past chairman of the board for Make-A-Wish Arizona and current national board member for Make-A-Wish,^[22] is also a past chairman of the board for the Valley of the Sun United Way.

Hall served as master of ceremonies and keynote speaker at the 2015 Arizona inaugural ceremonies, U.S. Air Force Academy, ASU's Cronkite school convocation, and became the first Cronkite alum to deliver a commencement speech at the school's graduation and also at the W.P. Carey School of Business convocation in 2012.^[23]

Pro-State Foundation

During the 2011 baseball season, Hall was diagnosed with prostate cancer.^[24] Hall has been in remission after successful surgery and indications that the cancer had not spread.^[25]

In a 2013 interview Hall said about having cancer, "It certainly makes you appreciate life. You realize how important family members are. I really cherish each and every day with my wife and kids. It has changed me. No doubt. Having cancer wakes you up. It forces you to live a happier lifestyle, but it also forces you to enjoy each and every day and count your blessings." Hall also said that it's his "mission now to drive awareness, spread the word and hopefully stress the importance of people being screened and tested."^[26]

Following successful surgery to remove his prostate, Hall is now cancer free and has become a tireless advocate of cancer-fighting charities while continuing to speak publicly about the health challenge he faces. In 2014, he launched his own 501(c)(3) organization, the Derrick Hall Pro-State Foundation, which is dedicated to serving as a comprehensive tool for those who have been diagnosed with prostate cancer and their families to help them understand the challenges and choices they face and how they can maintain a "pro" state of mind.

In 2014, he was honored with the USC Institute of Urology's Louis Zamperini Courage Award and the Pro-State Foundation was honored by Jane Seymour's Open Hearts Foundation, which supports organizations that are committed to positively impacting lives in the areas of health, education, arts and sports. www.pro-state.org

Personal life

Hall and his wife, Amy, reside in Paradise Valley, Arizona and are parents to their three children, Hayden, Logan, and Kylie.

References