EWING, Va. – Thomas Walker High School head football coach Tanner Hall surveyed his squad during media day last month and couldn’t help but crack a smile as he took a moment to contemplate the progress of the program.
“Going into year four, we’ve had these seniors since they were freshmen,” he said. “They kind of know what to expect and our culture is in a really good spot. I’m proud of how they come in and work, compete and are ready for practice each day. They’ve really come a long way.”
The same could be said for Hall, who was hired at Thomas Walker in the summer of 2022 after assistant-coaching stints at Union, Eastside and Lee High. Just 25-years-old at the time, he was the youngest gridiron boss in far Southwest Virginia that season.
“The thing is in becoming a head coach is you don’t know what you don’t know,” Hall said. “I made plenty of mistakes and am still going to make mistakes. You can be an assistant for however long, but nothing prepares you until you’re really in the fire and you’re the one making the calls.
“As an assistant you’re just coaching football. As a head coach, you’re handling discipline, you’re getting them fed, you’re getting buses lined up, fundraising, all that fun stuff that nobody tells you about.”
Thomas Walker coach Tanner Hall talks to his team after a 2024 scrimmage.
Bristol Herald Courier photos
Thomas Walker went 3-7 in Hall’s first season at the helm as he adjusted to being the main man in charge.
“There was a lot of adversity for our program and myself that first year,” Hall said. “But reflecting on that season and how it turned out it was a blessing in the long run.”
That was followed up by 5-5 showing in 2023 and last season his Pioneers quietly put together a solid 7-4 campaign and made the VHSL Region 1D playoffs for the first time since 2019.
“We want to continue to build on that success and stability and I think our guys are poised to do that,” Hall said. “But it’s a long grind.”
Thomas Walker (1-0) hosts the Lee High Generals (0-1) on Friday in a matchup between neighboring rivals as the Pioneers try to get their first win in the series.
Hall actually spent the fall of 2021 as an assistant on head coach Joey Carroll’s staff at Lee. Carroll has respected the work Hall has put in at Thomas Walker.
“Coach Hall has done a great job over there and continues to do so,” Carroll said. “He has those guys playing some good football.”
That year at Lee was important in Hall’s coaching development.
“When we got to Lee High for Coach Carroll’s first season, they were riding a pretty long losing streak, and to be a part of turning it around that season and ending that streak and making it back into the playoffs was really special,” Hall said. “Coach Carroll is a good football coach and I learned a lot about the game, and leadership working for him.”
Hall had many natural leadership qualities already as he was a three-year starter at quarterback for the Union Bears during his days playing high school football.
“Tanner was definitely a guy that I could see making the transition into coaching,” said Travis Turner, Hall’s coach at Union. “He has a passion for the game of football. He was a coach on the field when he was in high school.”
Hall quarterbacked Union to three playoff wins during his prep career.
“Tanner was always a student of the game,” Turner said. “When he was a player at Union, he took pride in film study and learning the details of the schemes we would see on Friday nights. Tanner has done an excellent job coaching and teaching at Thomas Walker. Seeing Tanner having some success at Thomas Walker has made the Union community proud.”
He’s now passing down those habits to a new generation.
“Coach Hall gets us well-prepared for the week ahead,” said Thomas Walker QB Clay Cheek. “He has taught me accountability for my actions and how to be a better leader. He comes from the quarterback position, so he has already been in most of the situations I will be in and he has taught me the importance of playing the position with confidence.”
Tra Adams is in his first season as Thomas Walker’s offensive coordinator and he was a former quarterback at J.I. Burton. Hall and Adams actually competed against each other in high school.
Union quarterback Tanner Hall launches a pass against Stuarts Draft during a 2012 playoff game at Bullitt Park.
Bristol Herald Courier
“He tries to sneak in a jab about Union beating Burton anytime he can,” Adams said. “Although Burton was a premier program back in those days, we never really had much for the Union Bears.”
Thomas Walker’s offense was clicking last week as the Pioneers opened the season with a 36-27 victory at Cumberland Gap. Lincoln Munsey and Cheek combined for 370 rushing yards.
“As a play caller, you have to be on the same page with the head coach and we see the game very similar,” Adams said. “We are really excited about football right now at Thomas Walker and have high expectations for this group.”
Having just recently turned 29, Hall has experience to go along with those expectations.
“We kind of want to take that next step,” Hall said.