Head Football Coach 2004-2007:  J.D. Hall was entering his fourth season as the head coach at Mandarin High School before passing away of a massive heart attack at the young age of 35. There's no doubt the Mustang football program is much more talented and competitive than before his arrival. In three and a half years at Mandarin, Hall guided the Orange and Green to a pair of playoff appearances, a District Championship, compiled a 20-11 record and gave the Mustang faithful a renewed sense of pride.

Hall was known around the high school football ranks as a wonderful mentor, and he saw 25 (11 in 2006)of his Mustangs go on to play Division 1a and 1aa football. Hall implemented a character building program when arriving to Mandarin. The program now includes a scout program as well as the Mandarin "Total Package" policy manual. Hall's program prepared the Mustang football players for the next level at any college Division.

With that said, the Mandarin faithful know what Coach Hall meant to Mandarin High School off the playing field and that cannot be measured. Respect, sincerity, class, honesty, integrity, character and humor are just some of the words that describe and define this man better than wins, losses or coaching records.

Rising above Hall's coaching accomplishments, though, were his credentials as a man. Friendly and outgoing, he was a deeply religious man who believed strongly in the strength of family. He loved people. He was an engaging speaker and he could be found year round speaking to groups about his character building vision and scout programs for his players.

Hall was an outstanding player at Jacksonville Lee High School where he played for Corky Rodgers and Bethune Cookman College in Daytona Beach, Fla., where he was one of the school's finest offensive performers. When Hall ended his playing career at BCC, he owned team records for career completions (588), attempts (1,150) and passing yardage (7,154 yards). His jersey, #12, is singled out as one of Bethune-Cookman's "Famous Wildcat Numbers."

Hall, 35, served as receivers coach under Connecticut Head Coach Randy Edsall and under Vanderbilt Head Coach Bobby Johnson. Previously, he served on the coaching staffs at North Carolina A&T and North Carolina Central where the team won the MEAC, earning a berth in the I-AA playoffs.

Hall earned a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from Bethune-Cookman.