Vanderbilt names former Clemson assistant Lemanski Hall as new director of player development

Vanderbilt named Lemanski Hall as the new football Director of Player Development, according to a release from the school.

Hall played nine years in the NFL and was most recently a defensive assistant with Clemson since 2015. He also played his college football at Alabama before being drafted in 1994.

Hall’s coaching career was solely with Clemson under Dabo Swinney, going from analyst to senior analyst to defensive ends coach over the last six seasons. He was on staff for two College Football Playoff national championship teams in 2016 and ’18.

“Hall takes over for former Commodore legend Earl Bennett, who was recently promoted to senior associate athletic director for strategy and business operations,” the release read. “In the player development role, Hall will work daily with the student-athletes in the football program while focusing on off-the-field areas. He will advise players in life skills and career development alongside the Ingram Center staff, while also helping coordinate community service opportunities.”

Swinney elected to not retain Hall on staff for 2024 and released a statement of gratitude for his contributions.

“Lemanski Hall and I met and had a great conversation about his future and long-term goals both personally and professionally, and after great thought and discussion, we came to a mutual decision for him to seek opportunities to advance his career elsewhere,” Swinney said. “I am so thankful for Ski and his wife, Leslie, and their family. Lemanski and I have been almost lifelong friends back to 1989 and he is someone I love like a brother. I’m appreciative and thankful for the impact he has had here at Clemson.”

Hall was also thankful for his time with the Tigers.

“I am so grateful and thankful for the opportunity that Clemson has given me over the past nine years,” he said in part. “Clemson has been so good to me and my family, and my wife and I want to thank the entire Clemson Family for being such a blessing in our lives. I also want to especially thank Coach Swinney and his wife, Kathleen, for welcoming us the way they have for almost a decade.

“I similarly want to thank Graham Neff, President Clements and the Board of Trustees for their faith in me representing this university for so many years.”

Hall played at Alabama, aiding the Crimson Tide to a 1992 national championship. He was also twice named First-Team All-SEC, playing linebacker.

Not only that, Hall was named to the Alabama All-Decade team for the 1990s. That led him to being a seventh round draft pick in 1994 by the Houston Oilers.

He played for the franchise for four seasons before having short stints with the Chicago Bears (1998), Dallas Cowboys (1999) and Minnesota Vikings (2000-02).