Coaches

Scott Hall

The 2023 season marks Head Coach Scott Hall’s 25th year leading the Eastern Michigan University women’s soccer team. Hall has been with the program since it came into existence in 1995, serving as assistant coach for four seasons before taking over as head coach in 1999, and is the longest tenured coach in the Mid-American Conference. He enters the 2023 campaign as one of 44 head coaches in NCAA Division I women's soccer to lead a team for 25 or more seasons. More impressive is of those 44, Hall and 12 others have accomplished the feat with the same program. Additionally, on an institutional level, Hall is the sixth head coach in EMU history to guide the same program for 25 or more years.


A former member of the EMU men’s soccer team from 1990-94, he holds a career record of 206-192-57 and a 129-98-28 mark in Mid-American Conference play. Under Hall, EMU squads have enjoyed nine seasons of 10-or-more victories including a pair of 15-or-more win campaigns (1999, 2001). Hall’s teams have qualified for the MAC Tournament 15 times and captured one tournament title, three regular season titles, three appearances in the MAC title game, and nine top-five regular season finishes.


In 2022, Hall helped lead nine Eagles to Academic All-MAC distinctions. It is the eighth consecutive season the Eastern Michigan soccer program has had at least nine members named to the Academic All-MAC Team, dating back to the 2014 season.


Although the fall 2020 season was postponed until the spring of 2021, the Eagles rose to the occasion, as the team finished with a 6-3 overall mark, tied for second in the MAC West and fourth overall in the league. The squad’s .667 win percentage was the best for an EMU team since the 2009 season, when the same mark was achieved. Hall landed three players on the All-MAC postseason teams for the second consecutive season, with Amanda Cripps and Sabrina McNeill being named to the All-MAC First Team, while newcomer Lexy Alston was selected to the All-MAC Freshman Team.


In 2019, Hall guided the Eagles to their third MAC Tournament title game, the first since the 2008 season, and first MAC Tournament victory since 2013. Eastern finished with an 8-11-3 record and 5-6 mark in MAC play. In the tournament, the seventh-seeded Green and White defeated the No. 2 and No. 6 seeds on their way to the championship game. Following the season, Sabrina McNeill was named First Team All-MAC, Lindsey Shira Second Team All-MAC, and Amanda Cripps Second Team and All-Freshman MAC teams. In addition, Hall aided McNeill to United Soccer Coaches All-Region honors for the second consecutive season, marking only the second time in program history that feat has been achieved. Alia Frederick was also named to the CoSIDA Academic All-District team, while McNeill and Nicole Remedios were named Scholar All-Region selections by United Soccer Coaches. The 2019 squad also earned their first-ever Team Ethics and Sportsmanship award from United Soccer Coaches.


In 2018, Hall’s squad posted its most wins (10) since the 2014 season, including a non-conference win over UConn. Following the season Sabrina McNeill and Kriston Hullibarger (Nason) garnered a slew of honors. McNeill was named First Team All-MAC before reeling in all-region honors, while Nason was tabbed Second Team All-MAC. Nason was also rewarded for her work in the classroom, being selected Google Cloud Academic All-District, as well as a CoSIDA Academic All-American.


In 2017, Hall guided Peyton Davis to Second Team All-MAC honors, while Madeline Olson garnered a spot on the All-MAC Freshmen Team. EMU finished the year with a 7-12-1 overall record, including a 4-7 mark in MAC play.

Hall’s squad returned to the MAC Tournament in 2016 after an improbable run midway through league play that pushed them into the playoffs. Three Eagles reeled in postseason honors as Ellie Tillar landed on the All-MAC First Team, Kaylin Williams garnered Second Team All-MAC honors, and Sabrina McNeill was recognized as the conference’s freshman of the year. Additionally, McNeill earned a spot on the MAC’s All-Freshmen Team.


In 2015, Hall coached Kriston Hullibarger (Nason) to MAC All-Freshman Team honors while the Eagles closed out the year with a 5-11-3 overall record. Falling short of the MAC Tournament for the first time since 2011, the Green and White held a 2-7-2 ledger in league play.


Hall led the team to a 12-7-2 record, including 8-2-1 in MAC play, to capture the Mid-American Conference regular season title during the 2013 campaign, the program’s first since 2003. For his strong leadership, Hall was named MAC Coach of the Year by his peers in the conference. Along with standing atop of the conference at the conclusion of the regular season, EMU led the MAC in several categories: points (137), goals (45), goals per game (2.14), assists (47) and assists per game (2.24). The offensively-charged Eagles produced the 33rd-best scoring offense in the nation, ranking 23rd nationally in points and 13th in assists. The 45 goals were the third-most scored in a single season in program history. Eastern was in every contest throughout the season as all seven losses were only by one goal. Individually, forward Angela Vultaggio was named MAC Offensive Player of the Year, while junior Emily Dzik shared MAC Defensive Player of the Year honors.


The 2012 team rebounded from missing the postseason in 2011 to capturing third place overall in the Mid-American Conference and second in the West Division with an overall record of 11-6-2 and an 8-3-0 MAC mark. The Eagles posted their first 11-win season since 2009 and first eight-win performance in conference action since 2003 while achieving the largest single-season turnaround in program history.


During his first season as head coach in 1999, Hall led the Eagles to their first-ever Mid-American Conference title and NCAA tournament berth. During that memorable 1999 season, Eastern Michigan was ranked sixth nationally in team defense, with a 0.55 goals against average. The Eagles also finished the year with 13 shutouts, good for seventh in the nation. Goalkeeper Sarah Willis was named MAC Player of the Year following the season, along with five other Eagles garnering All-MAC honors. Hall was selected MAC Coach of the Year for his efforts, the first time an EMU soccer coach earned the award. Hall was named MAC Coach of the Year again following the 2001 season after going 10-4-1 in conference play.


The 2003 campaign also proved to be a historic run for the Green and White. EMU opened up MAC play going unbeaten in the first nine games with a 7-0-2 mark en route to the MAC regular-season title and earning the No. 1 seed for the tournament with an 8-2-2 record. The Eagles hit double digit wins again during the 2004 campaign, going 10-7-3 with a 6-4-2 MAC record.


After missing the tournament in 2006, Hall’s team bounced back with a 5-4-2 MAC record in 2007, earning the No. 5 seed for the postseason tournament. EMU lost a heartbreaking 2-1 overtime match to Bowling Green, ending the 2007 season with a 7-8-4 mark for the Green and White. The 2008 season was a return to the upper echelon of the Mid-American Conference for Hall and the Eagles. EMU made it to the championship match in 2008 before losing a tough 1-0 game to the University of Toledo. In 2009, the Green and White cracked the semifinals and were led by MAC Player of the Year Ashley Rodrigues. In 2010, the Eagles finished with a 9-7-5 overall record with a 6-2-3 mark in MAC play. Hall’s squad earned the No. 4 seed headed into the MAC Tournament but fell in a nail-biter to Western Michigan on penalty kicks in the opening round.


Throughout his tenure with the Eagles, Hall has coached six MAC Players of the Year, 48 all-conference selections, 79 Academic All-MAC picks and 13 All-Great Lakes region performers.


Hall took over the women’s soccer program following the tragic death of the program’s first head coach, Paul Scicluna, in the fall of 1998. He had served as an assistant coach since the inaugural season in 1995. During his time as an assistant coach, the Eagles qualified for the MAC Tournament in 1997 and 1998. Hall also worked with his mentor at Total Soccer, Inc. as a counselor and instructor.


A four-year varsity letterwinner at Grand Ledge High School (1985-89), Hall earned All-Capital Area Conference and All-League honors. He continued his career as a member of the Eastern Michigan University men’s soccer program from 1990-94, earning four varsity letters.


An Eastern Michigan graduate, Hall earned his bachelor’s degree in elementary education in 1994. Hall and his wife, Sue, have a son Jack, and a daughter, Maya. They reside in South Lyon, Mich.

Joe Malachino

The 2023 season marks the third season for Joe Malachino as associate head coach and his 15th season on Scott Hall’s staff. He was a volunteer assistant from 2005-07 before being named a full-time assistant following the 2007 season. Malachino was promoted to his new role September 8, 2021.


In 2019, Malachino aided the Eagles to their third-ever MAC Tournament title game appearance, and first since 2008. In addition, the Eagles garnered their first conference tournament win since 2013. Malachino helped guide Sabrina McNeill (First Team), Lindsey Shira (Second Team), and Amanda Cripps (Second and Freshman) to All-MAC honors, and McNeill to United Soccer Coaches All-Region Accolades. Eastern finished the season with an 8-11-3 mark, and 5-6 MAC play record.


In 2018, Hall’s squad posted its most wins (10) since the 2014 season, including a non-conference win over UConn. Following the season Sabrina McNeill and Kriston Hullibarger (Nason) garnered a slew of honors. McNeill was named First Team All-MAC before reeling in all-region honors, while Nason was tabbed Second Team All-MAC. Nason was also rewarded for her work in the classroom, being selected Google Cloud Academic All-District, as well as a CoSIDA Academic All-American.


In 2017, Malachino helped Peyton Davis to Second Team All-MAC honors, while Madeline Olson garnered a spot on the All-MAC Freshmen Team. EMU finished the year with a 7-12-1 overall record, including a 4-7 mark in MAC play.


In his first season as a full-time assistant, Malachino helped the Eagles to their best finish since the 2004 season. The Eagles hit double-digit wins for the highest win total since the 2001 team won 15 games. The Eagles had four players earn All-MAC honors while leading the conference in goals while ranking third in goals allowed.


Along with serving as the Eagles’ assistant coach, Malachino is also on staff for the U.S. Soccer Training Center in Michigan, helping identify and train the state’s top soccer players for the U.S. Soccer Youth National Team program. Sticking with teaching the rising stars of the game, Malachino has taken the reigns of the 2001 (age 13) Michigan Olympic Development Program State Girls’ Team as the program’s head coach.


Malachino brings 21 years of coaching experience to EMU ranging from U-6, semi-professional and the college ranks. In the past, Malachino has been the Director of Coaching for the Novi Jaguars and a member of the Region II Olympic Development Program (ODP) staff. He is a United States Soccer Federation (USSF) A licensed coach, the highest level of coaching license for US soccer. He also played professionally for seven years with the Detroit Rockers in the National Professional Soccer League.


In 2000, Malachino was named the Professional Development League (PDL) Coach of the Year for the Michigan Bucks semi-professional team. During that season, the Bucks made the championship game before losing to Chicago, 1-0. In U.S. Open Cup action, the team also defeated the New England Revolution of Major League Soccer (MLS), 1-0, at Foxboro Stadium in Foxboro, Mass., before losing 6-5 in a penalty shootout to the Miami Fusion (MLS) in the next round.


Malachino earned a Bachelor of Science degree in physical education from Texas Christian University in 1993. He also has a Michigan Teaching certificate and is currently working towards a Masters of Arts degree in teaching from Wayne State University.


Malachino and his wife, Miriam, reside in Howell, Mich. They have a son, Kiernan and two daughters, Kaia and Kate.

Megan Miles

The 2023 season will mark the second on staff for Megan Miles after joining the EMU coaching staff prior to the 2022 season. The former Megan Trapp, a four-year letterwinner for the Eagles under Head Coach Scott Hall (2012-15), returns to Ypsilanti with a wealth of coaching experience gained throughout the area at the youth, club and collegiate levels.


“We are excited to welcome Megan back into the EMU family,” Hall said. “She has done a great job staying close to the program since her graduation. Her experience with the local universities along with her ability to connect with people, more importantly with our players and staff, will be a valuable asset for our program moving forward. When you have a player that wants to come back and work for you, it really makes you feel like the program is moving in the right direction.”


“Since my time studying and playing at EMU, I have been eager to return,” Miles said. “I am so excited to have the opportunity to work in a program that holds such a special place in my heart. I look forward to bringing my enthusiasm, love of collaboration, and new ideas to the team as well as learning and growing with them.”


A member of the coaching ranks since the 2016 season, Miles has spent time at two local universities (Lawrence Tech in Southfield and Concordia Ann Arbor) while also leading younger players at a pair of local clubs (Detroit City FC and Michigan Tigers FC).


On the collegiate front, Miles most recently served as an assistant coach at LTU for the 2021 season+ where she helped the Blue Devils reach the semifinals of the Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference (WHAC) Tournament as the tournament’s seven seed. Additionally, two of her student-athletes, Courtney Matheson and DiOnna Hill, were selected to the Second Team All-WHAC in a vote of the league coaches.


Her first stop in collegiate coaching came when she took on the graduate assistant position at Concordia, working with the coaches to prepare daily team activities, training sessions, paperwork, and other aspects of the day-to-day operations of the program. After her two year stint (2016-18) at a graduate assistant, Miles was hired as an assistant coach, working in that capacity from 2018-20. During her time at CUAA, the Cardinals reached the quarterfinals of the WHAC Tournament all four years and had one of their best seasons in program history in 2017 as they reached the NCCAA National Championship Semifinals, dropping a tough 1-0 decision to Biola, the eventual national champion.


Miles also has recently worked with several teams within the Detroit City FC, including serving as the head coach of the inaugural women’s U23 side in 2022 while also coaching several teams for DCFC Youth West since 2020. Prior to that, she also was a youth club coach with Michigan Tigers FC where she worked with three concurrent youth sides by scheduling matches and practices, leading training sessions, and managing the communication between parents and club management.


A local product and 2012 graduate of Canton High School, where she was a four-year varsity letterwinner, Miles made 72 appearances for the Eagles during her time in Ypsilanti and tallied 19 points over those four years including six goals and seven assists. A three-time Mid-American Conference Scholar-Athlete honoree, Miles was a member of a class that averaged nearly 10 wins per season and was a force in the MAC as EMU captured the 2013 league Championship (regular season) and were the 2014 MAC West Division Champions as well.


Her playing days did not end upon graduation from EMU, however, as the midfielder appeared on several semi-professional rosters since. She began playing in United Women’s Soccer in 2017 and played two seasons with Michigan Legends FC before joining AFC Ann Arbor in 2019. After playing one year for Detroit City FC in 2021, she most recently played several months with DCFC’s USL-W league side before stepping away to join the EMU coaching staff.


Miles earned her bachelor’s degree in Marketing from EMU in 2016, and her master’s degree in Communication and Public Relations from CUAA in 2018.


The Plymouth, Mich., native currently resides in Westland with her husband, Charlie, and their dog, Louie.

No Men's Soccer Program