PJ Hall - Safeties - Staff Directory - University of Houston Athletics

Staff Directory

PJ Hall

Title:
Safeties

PJ Hall
Hometown	Hoover, Ala.
College	Tulane '19; Tulane '20
COACHING EXPERIENCE
Year	School, Position
2026 -	Houston, Safeties
2025	Houston, Cornerbacks
2024	Tarleton State, Defensive Assistant
2021-23	Baylor, Graduate Assistant
2021	UAB, Graduate Assistant
POSTSEASON EXPERIENCE
Year	Bowl, School
2025	Texas Bowl, Houston
2024	FCS Playoffs, Tarleton State
2022	Armed Forces Bowl, Baylor
2021	Sugar Bowl, Baylor

Coach PJ Hall on X, formerly Twitter

• PJ Hall, a former Tulane Football standout student-athlete, who spent three seasons on staff at Baylor and another at Tarleton State, joined University of Houston Football as its Cornerbacks Coach on Monday, Feb. 3, 2025. Hall transitioned to coach the safeties ahead of the 2026 season. The 2026 season will be his second with the Cougars.

• In 2025, the Cougars’ cornerbacks posted career-best seasons while helping limit opposing teams passing game plans. Hall tutored both starting cornerbacks to All-Big 12 Conference Second-Team selections, the first season Houston had a pair of All-Conference cornerbacks since 2016.

• Sophomore cornerback Will James posted one of the best seasons by a Cougar defensive back in over 10 years when he became the first Cougar DB since 2015 to record 3+ INTs and 4+ TFLs in the same season. James also earned Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week following a performance where he snagged two interceptions while adding a forced fumble and five tackles.

• On the other side of the field, senior Latrell McCutchin Sr., had the 17th fewest targets across the Big 12 yet the fourth-most pass breakups (10). Along with James and senior Zelmar Vedder, the trio of corners posted 7+ PBUs each, becoming the first Cougar trio of cornerbacks with 7+ PBUs since 2022.

• Hall spent the 2024 season as Defensive Assistant at Tarleton State as the Texans became the fifth team in the history of the FCS Playoffs to win their first playoff game at the FCS level in their first year eligible after reclassifying from NCAA Division II. Tarleton State finished 10-4 overall and 6-2 in United Athletic Conference play, reaching double-digit wins for the sixth time in program history. They ended the season ranked No. 12 in the AFCA FCS Coaches Poll and No. 13 in the Stats Perform FCS Top 25 Poll.

• In its first season at the Division I level, Tarleton State ranked fourth in the FCS in turnovers gained (29), fifth in interceptions (18), eighth in fumbles recovered (11), 17^th in team passing efficiency defense (117.98) and 27^th in defensive touchdowns (2). The Texans paced the UAC in Pro Football Focus (PFF) coverage grade (87.0).

• Hall came to Tarleton State from Baylor where he spent three seasons (2021-23) as Graduate Assistant, working specifically with the safeties. During his time with the Bears, Hall helped tutor four safeties who went on earn to All-Big 12 Conference honors.

• During 2023, Baylor ranked third in the Big 12 Conference in first downs defense (241) and forth in both red zone defense (.800) and defensive touchdowns (2).

• Baylor paced the Big 12 in PFF coverage grade at 84.0 during 2022. That season, the Bears ranked second in the Big 12 in passing yards allowed (222.8), third in total defense (371.0), fourth in scoring defense (26.8) and fourth in interceptions (13). Baylor safeties Devin Lemear and Al Walcott earned All-Big 12 Honorable Mention honors with the former earning votes for Big 12 Defensive Freshman of the Year.

• During 2021, the Bears ranked second in the league in coverage grade (77.3). That season, Baylor ranked third nationally in interceptions (19), 10^th in scoring defense (18.3), 13^th in defensive touchdowns (3), 23^rd in third down conversion percentage defense (.343) and 26^th in team passing efficiency defense (121.54). Individually, safeties Christian Morgan and JT Woods were tabbed All-Big 12 Honorable Mention.

• Hall came to Baylor after a short time at UAB, working as their defensive graduate assistant from February to May of 2021.

• The former safety played 47 games across four seasons under Fritz at Tulane from 2016-19, totaling 139 tackles, three interceptions, 23 passes defended, two forced fumbles, one fumble recovery and one touchdown. The Hoover, Ala., native earned his Bachelor of Science in Information Technology as well as his Master of Professional Studies (MPS) in Health and Wellness Management.