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University of Massachusets Athletics
Team Behind the Team: Colby Hall
December 16, 2020 | Women's Basketball
Hall supports the Minutewomen toward reaching their academic and career goals
Team Behind the Team is presented by UMassFive
AMHERST, Mass. – University of Massachusetts women's basketball continues its Q&A series, Team Behind the Team, as the program will feature several key members of the support staff and their roles with the Minutewomen.
Next in the series is Colby Hall, assistant director for learning enhancement. Alongside Elizabeth Smith Hamlet, Hall works daily with the Minutewomen to ensure the squad is progressing toward short and long-term academic and career goals.
Name: Colby Hall
Position: Assistant Director for Learning Enhancement
At UMass Since: Fall 2017
Hometown: Bellingham, Massachusetts
What does a normal day look like for you around UMass and with the women's basketball program?
"During the pandemic, I've been going to the Champions Center once per week and lead study hall for an hour and a half. I check in and collaborate with Elizabeth Smith Hamlet, the team's academic counselor, on what the student-athletes have to get done for the week. We communicate with professors, follow up on anyone with learning concerns and make sure the student-athletes have a plan for what they need to get done."
What are you most focused on in your work with the student-athletes?
"The biggest thing is figuring out what their goals are long-term, especially outside of sports. Can we put them in classes that align with their long-term goals? Can we create long-term learning and independent learning for them? UMass is a very rigorous academic school, so we try and give the student-athletes the support they need. Figuring out how they learn is a big piece for me. It will guide me, our staff and the coaches in finding pieces to help them be successful in an academic setting."
How do you keep the coaching staff apprised of student-athlete progress?
"A big piece during the pandemic is weekly meetings with the student-athletes and weekly meetings with the coaching staff. I work with the coaches on making sure the students have a success plan. For example, when the freshmen arrived they did academic baseline testing, which allowed us to give the coaches an overview of how the student-athletes would learn both academically and on the court. I work closely with director of operations Brittany Famiglietti, making sure the student-athletes are where they are, when they need to be there."
Why UMass? Why Amherst and the Pioneer Valley?
"I like being at UMass because it's helped me advance my career. Our administration has done a good job helping develop our younger professionals. For me that's been a big thing because I'm able to network with people and grow more in academics. I really want to make a difference especially for minority student-athletes. I want to make sure they graduate, make sure they have a plan. UMass has helped me do that with the teams I work with. Amherst presents the ability to connect with different people in a great higher education setting."
What's something the average person might not know about you?
"I'm an identical twin and am also the cheerleading coach at UMass."
Follow UMass women's basketball on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram (@UMassWBB) for the latest news and updates around the team.
Previous "Team Behind the Team" Profiles
October 13 – Director of Student-Athlete Development/Diversity and Inclusion Officer Amanda Ekabutr
September 29 – Senior Assistant Director/Academic Success Elizabeth Smith Hamlet
September 15 – Director of Sport Psychology Dr. Nicole Gabana
August 26 – Administrative Assistant Katie Lenois
AMHERST, Mass. – University of Massachusetts women's basketball continues its Q&A series, Team Behind the Team, as the program will feature several key members of the support staff and their roles with the Minutewomen.
Next in the series is Colby Hall, assistant director for learning enhancement. Alongside Elizabeth Smith Hamlet, Hall works daily with the Minutewomen to ensure the squad is progressing toward short and long-term academic and career goals.
Name: Colby Hall
Position: Assistant Director for Learning Enhancement
At UMass Since: Fall 2017
Hometown: Bellingham, Massachusetts
What does a normal day look like for you around UMass and with the women's basketball program?
"During the pandemic, I've been going to the Champions Center once per week and lead study hall for an hour and a half. I check in and collaborate with Elizabeth Smith Hamlet, the team's academic counselor, on what the student-athletes have to get done for the week. We communicate with professors, follow up on anyone with learning concerns and make sure the student-athletes have a plan for what they need to get done."
What are you most focused on in your work with the student-athletes?
"The biggest thing is figuring out what their goals are long-term, especially outside of sports. Can we put them in classes that align with their long-term goals? Can we create long-term learning and independent learning for them? UMass is a very rigorous academic school, so we try and give the student-athletes the support they need. Figuring out how they learn is a big piece for me. It will guide me, our staff and the coaches in finding pieces to help them be successful in an academic setting."
How do you keep the coaching staff apprised of student-athlete progress?
"A big piece during the pandemic is weekly meetings with the student-athletes and weekly meetings with the coaching staff. I work with the coaches on making sure the students have a success plan. For example, when the freshmen arrived they did academic baseline testing, which allowed us to give the coaches an overview of how the student-athletes would learn both academically and on the court. I work closely with director of operations Brittany Famiglietti, making sure the student-athletes are where they are, when they need to be there."
Why UMass? Why Amherst and the Pioneer Valley?
"I like being at UMass because it's helped me advance my career. Our administration has done a good job helping develop our younger professionals. For me that's been a big thing because I'm able to network with people and grow more in academics. I really want to make a difference especially for minority student-athletes. I want to make sure they graduate, make sure they have a plan. UMass has helped me do that with the teams I work with. Amherst presents the ability to connect with different people in a great higher education setting."
What's something the average person might not know about you?
"I'm an identical twin and am also the cheerleading coach at UMass."
Follow UMass women's basketball on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram (@UMassWBB) for the latest news and updates around the team.
Previous "Team Behind the Team" Profiles
October 13 – Director of Student-Athlete Development/Diversity and Inclusion Officer Amanda Ekabutr
September 29 – Senior Assistant Director/Academic Success Elizabeth Smith Hamlet
September 15 – Director of Sport Psychology Dr. Nicole Gabana
August 26 – Administrative Assistant Katie Lenois
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