Hal Willard returns to the St. Mary's baseball program for his eighth season in 2012 following a 13-year hiatus from the Seahawk dugout.  Willard served as an assistant coach to former skipper Tom Harmon in 1978 before taking over the helm from 1979 to 1991.

A 1977 graduate of James Madison University in Harrisonburg, Va., he has a bachelor's degree in health and physical education.  While at JMU, he lettered four years on the varsity football team as a quarterback and safety.

Upon graduation, Willard began work as an instructor of physical education at nearby Chopticon High School (where he also coached football and basketball) before finding employment at the U.S. Naval Air Station at Patuxent River where he currently serves as the athletic director.

While at St. Mary's, he turned around a program designated for elimination from the athletic department, putting together the team's first winning season in 1982 (12-10-1).  In addition to his duties as head baseball coach, Willard also assumed the duties of assistant women's basketball coach, athletic trainer and sports information director.

A native of Beaver Falls, Pa., he resides in Leonardtown with his wife, Becky.  The couple are the proud parents of two sons, Drew and Garth.  Drew '07 is a history teacher and head baseball coach at Westlake H.S. in Waldorf while Garth is a 2009 graduate of the Virginia Military Institute where he was a Navy ROTC Cadet.  Garth is a Lieutant Junior Grade helicopter pilot stationed at Naval Station Mayport in Jacksonville, Fla.