Seth Duckworth
Release from OU Athletics
NORMAN — University of Oklahoma head wrestling coach Roger Kish announced the hiring of Mark Hall II as the program’s director of operations Wednesday.
Hall II joins the Sooners after three seasons with the University of Pennsylvania wrestling program, where he served as an assistant coach starting with the 2021-22 school year.
“We are excited to welcome Mark to our program,” said Kish. “Throughout our two-month long process, he continuously showed us how he could help Oklahoma wrestling reach new heights. His passion for the sport combined with his experience at the highest level of wrestling will be a huge asset in moving our program forward. Mark has an excellent reputation in the wrestling world, and we are thrilled to call him a Sooner.”
Hall’s primary responsibilities will include overseeing the team’s logistics and organizational needs off the mat, including travel, recruiting, budgeting and team events. He’ll also serve as the program’s liaison to vital support staff and resources to enhance the student-athlete experience.
“I am beyond grateful to Coach Kish for this opportunity to join him and the rest of the staff,” said Hall II. “Oklahoma wrestling has a strong, storied tradition of success, and I look forward to working alongside the talented staff and athletes to uphold that standard while helping them achieve their dreams.”
Prior to his coaching career, Hall II was a national champion wrestler at Penn State (2016-20). Compiling a remarkable 115-6 record, Hall II won the 2017 national championship at 174 pounds, was a four-time All-American, three-time Big Ten champion and three-time NCAA finalist. He was announced as the No. 1 seed ahead of the 2020 NCAA Championships, which were ultimately canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Hall II was named the 2016 Dave Schultz Excellence Award winner after racking up six state championships for Apple Valley High School in Minnesota. He completed one of the nation’s most storied high school wrestling careers with a 277-4 record, including 171 consecutive wins and 189 career falls. He is the only high school wrestler on record to win 12 combined individual and team state championships.
From 2021-24, Hall II also competed for USA Wrestling on the global stage, claiming US Open Freestyle championships in 2021 and 2022. His freestyle wrestling accolades include being a two-time Junior World Champion and 2018 Pan American Championships gold medalist. He won the FILA Cadet World Championship in 2014, earned silver at the 2021 Matteo Pellicone Ranking Series event in Rome, Italy, and finished third at the 2023 Pan American Championships.
Graduating from Penn State in 2020, Hall II holds a Bachelor of Science degree in communications.
