Derrick Hall

Derrick Martin Hall (born February 17, 1969) is an American sports executive currently serving as the president and chief executive officer (CEO) of the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Hall joined the Diamondbacks in May 2005 as senior vice president and served in numerous capacities before being named president in September 2006 and adding the title of CEO in January 2009. Prior to joining the Diamondbacks, Hall served as senior vice president of the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Fortune 500 company KB Home.

Hall was born in Los Angeles, California on February 17, 1969, to Larry and Annetta Hall. His father worked in the newspaper industry, which led to Derrick moving all over the United States during his childhood. He was raised in a Jewish household.^[1]

Although earning acceptance to the United States Military Academy with a nomination from U.S. Senator Harry Reid,^[2] Hall attended Arizona State University on a speech and debate scholarship. He went on to receive a bachelor'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 ASU Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communications Alumni Hall of Fame in 2002.^[3]

He later earned a master's degree from Ohio 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 honorary Doctorate degree from the University of Phoenix and spoke at the school's convocation.^[5]

Hall spent parts of 12 seasons with the Los Angeles Dodgers, joining the organization's Single-A Florida State League affiliate in Vero 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 at KNBC-TV (Ch. 4) in Los Angeles.^[6]

Prior to joining the D-backs, Hall made a brief stop as senior vice president of corporate communications for a Fortune 500 company, KB Home, based in Los Angeles, where he increased brand awareness.^[7]

During that time, he has also taught as an adjunct professor at the USC Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism and later at Arizona State University's Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication.

During Hall's tenure, the Diamondbacks won two National League West Division Championships (2007, '11), a Wild Card (2017), and an NLCS (2007).^[8] Hall also negotiated the largest financial transaction in franchise history - a historic 20-year television rights deal with FOX and brought the MLB All-Star Game and World Baseball Classic to Chase Field.^[9]

The success of the franchise under Hall led to numerous honors, including ESPN the Magazine tabbing the D-backs as the top Major League franchise^[10] and the United Nations awarding the team the NGO Positive Peace Award.^[11]

In 2011, Hall unveiled Salt River Fields at Talking Stick,^[12] the D-backs' $200 million, 140-acre Spring Training facility shared with the Colorado Rockies on Salt River Indian Community land near Scottsdale, Arizona, that he negotiated and designed.

The Arizona Diamondbacks Foundation surpassed the $60 million mark in charitable in 2018 under Hall's direction.^[13] The corporate culture of the D-backs, created by Hall, led Yahoo! and Forbes 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 and Yahoo's list of 100 Most Influential CEOs.^[15][16] In 2019, it was announced that Hall had been inducted into the Arizona 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 for Make-A-Wish,^[20] is also a past chairman of the board for the Valley 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 in Paradise Valley, Arizona and additionally have a home in Coronado, California.

During the 2011 baseball season, Hall was diagnosed with prostate 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 own 501(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]