Derrick Hall | |
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| Born | (1969-02-17)February 17, 1969 (age 56) |
| Alma mater | Arizona State University (B.A.) Ohio University (M.A.) |
| Occupation | Major League Baseball Executive |
| Title | President and CEO,Arizona Diamondbacks |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 3 |
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Derrick Martin Hall (born February 17, 1969) is an American sports executive currently serving as thepresident andchief executive officer (CEO) of theArizona Diamondbacks.
Hall joined theDiamondbacks in May 2005 as senior vice president and served in numerous capacities before being namedpresident in September 2006 and adding the title ofCEO in January 2009. Prior to joining the Diamondbacks, Hall served assenior vice president of theLos Angeles Dodgers and the Fortune 500 companyKB Home.
Hall was born inLos Angeles, California on February 17, 1969, to Larry and Annetta Hall. His father worked in thenewspaper industry, which led to Derrick moving all over theUnited States during his childhood. He was raised in aJewish household.[1]
Although earning acceptance to theUnited States Military Academy with a nomination from U.S. SenatorHarry Reid,[2] Hall attendedArizona State University on aspeech and debate scholarship. He went on to receive abachelor's degree in broadcasting and journalism from Arizona State University, where he was named "Man of the Year" in 1991. Hall was inducted into the ASUWalter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communications Alumni Hall of Fame in 2002.[3]
He later earned amaster's degree fromOhio 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.[4] In 2012, he received an honoraryDoctorate degree from theUniversity of Phoenix and spoke at the school'sconvocation.[5]
Hall spent parts of 12 seasons with theLos Angeles Dodgers, joining the organization'sSingle-A Florida State League affiliate inVero Beach, Florida, as an intern in 1992 and departed as the club's senior vice president of communications in 2004.[2]
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 atKNBC-TV (Ch. 4) in Los Angeles.[6]
Prior to joining the D-backs, Hall made a brief stop assenior vice president of corporate communications for a Fortune 500 company,KB Home, based inLos Angeles, where he increased brand awareness.[7]
During that time, he has also taught as anadjunct professor at theUSC Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism and later at Arizona State University'sWalter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication.
During Hall's tenure, the Diamondbacks won twoNational League West Division Championships (2007,'11), a Wild Card (2017), and anNLCS (2007).[8] Hall also negotiated the largest financial transaction in franchise history - a historic 20-year television rights deal with FOX and brought theMLB All-Star Game andWorld Baseball Classic toChase Field.[9]
The success of thefranchise under Hall led to numerous honors, includingESPN the Magazine tabbing the D-backs as the topMajor League franchise[10] and theUnited Nations awarding the team the NGO Positive Peace Award.[11]
In 2011, Hall unveiledSalt River Fields at Talking Stick,[12] the D-backs' $200 million, 140-acre Spring Training facility shared with theColorado Rockies on Salt River Indian Community land nearScottsdale, Arizona, that he negotiated and designed.
TheArizona Diamondbacks Foundation surpassed the $60 million mark incharitable in 2018 under Hall's direction.[13] The corporate culture of the D-backs, created by Hall, ledYahoo! andForbes to deem the club as "the best workplace in sports."[14]
During his time with the Diamondbacks, Hall has consistently been named to Rise Global andYahoo's list of 100 Most Influential CEOs.[15][16] In 2019, it was announced that Hall had been inducted into theArizona Sports Hall of Fame for his impact on baseball.[17]
Hall currently serves on or is associated with over 25 corporate and charitable boards,[18] as well as an Ambassador for the Seena Magowitz Pancreatic Cancer Foundation.[19] Hall, who is the past chairman of the board for Make-A-Wish Arizona and current national board member forMake-A-Wish,[20] is also a past chairman of the board for theValley of the Sun United Way.
Hall met his wife, Amy, in college and the two were married in 1992. They are parents to three children, Logan, Hayden and Kylie. They reside inParadise Valley, Arizona and additionally have a home inCoronado, California.
During the 2011 baseball season, Hall was diagnosed withprostate cancer.[21] Hall is now cancer free and has become a tireless advocate of cancer-fighting charities while continuing to speak publicly about the health challenges he faced.[22] In 2014, he launched his own501(c)(3) organization, the Derrick Hall Pro-State Foundation.[23]
In an 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."[24]
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