Former Redbird defensive back Khenon Hall is in his seventh season at Illinois State, and his third working with the team’s running backs and recruiting coordinator. Hall oversaw the completion of the 2020 Redbird football recruiting class that was ranked No. 8 in the FCS by HERO Sports.

In 2019, James Robinson finished his career as one of the most decorated running backs in school history. A consensus first-team All-American, Robinson was a STATS FCS Walter Payton Award finalist for the second time and an All-Missouri Valley Football Conference First-Team selection for the third-straight season. Robinson led the MVFC in rushing yards (1,899), yards per game (126.6) and touchdowns (18) and recorded eight 100-plus yard rushing efforts, including a pair of 200-plus yard efforts in the first and second round of the FCS playoffs that included a school-record breaking 297-yard effort in the first-round with at Southeast Missouri. He finished the season ranked No. 2 in the FCS in rushing yards and yards per game and sixth in rushing touchdowns.

In 2018, Hall helped Robinson reach new heights and gain national attention. Under his tutelage, Robinson was named a STATS FCS Walter Payton Award finalist and an All-American from multiple agencies. The All-Missouri Valley Football Conference First-Team selection led the conference with 1,290 rushing yards, and tied for second in the league with 12 rushing touchdowns.

Hall served as a mentor for 2014 senior captain Dontae McCoy, who anchored the Redbird defense from the safety spot.  McCoy earned All-MVFC Honorable Mention honors in his final season, after recording 67 tackles and breaking up four passes in his final season at ISU in 2014. He also helped Alec Kocour earn MVFC honorable mention honors, despite playing in just nine games due to an injury.

Hall returned to Illinois State, after serving as a graduate assistant at New Mexico working with defensive backs during the 2011-12 season. Prior to that, Hall spent the 2009 and 2010 seasons as a student assistant at Illinois State and assisted with the Redbirds’ secondary and defensive line.

He started six games for Illinois State in 2008, before suffering a career-ending neck injury.  He would then go on to earn his degree from Illinois State in University Studies in 2010.

Prior to his playing career at ISU, Hall was rated as a two-star junior-college recruit by Rivals.com. While at Trinity Valley Community College, he ranked second on the team in 2007 with 70 tackles, including a team-high 66 solo stops, in eight games of action. In addition, he added four tackles-for-loss and a quarterback sack and was named to the 2006 All-Southwest Junior College Football Conference Honorable Mention team.

Hall lives in Normal, Illinois, and has three children: Jazlyn, Khenon Jr., and Khaydon.