Coach Bob Hallberg is without a doubt one of the greatest coaches Saint Xavier University has ever had. He is the only head coach in the 20-year history of the Saint Xavier Women’s Basketball program. Hallberg led the Cougars to the NAIA Division II Women’s Basketball National Championship game in 2016- 2017, and returned to the NAIA Fab Four the following season. In 2018, he was honored by the Illinois Basketball Coaches Association (IBCA) as the fourth coach in Illinois basketball history to achieve 1,000 career coaching victories. Hallberg finished the 2018-2019 season with a career women’s basketball record of 502-131. In twenty seasons of competition, Saint Xavier has claimed thirteen CCAC regular season championships and ten CCAC Tournament titles. Hallberg has led Saint Xavier to twenty-one or more wins every season, and has qualified for sixteen consecutive NAIA Tournaments from 2003 to 2018.
Coach Hallberg isn’t just a legend at Saint Xavier; he has found success with his other coaching positions as well. In the forty-eight seasons of boys high school basketball and men’s and women’s college basketball, Hallberg has won over 1,000 games with a career record of 1,059-410. Hallberg helped lead his alma mater, Chicago State University, in their transition into NCAA Division I. CSU averaged 25 wins per season during Hallberg’s tenure, and finished third at the 1984 NAIA National Tournament, ultimately earning a No. 1 ranking that season. In their first season as a NCAA Division I program in 1985, Chicago State set the Division I record for most victories by a first-year program. CSU also held the NCAA record for consecutive home victories with a 75-game win streak. In 1987, Hallberg moved on to the University of Illinois-Chicago, where he led the Flames for nine seasons and earned 134 victories. He spent four years outside of coaching before returning to Saint Xavier and leading the new women’s basketball program in 2000. Hallberg has been inducted into a number of Halls of Fame; he is currently a Hall of Fame member at Leo High School, Saint Xavier University, University of Illinois-Chicago, Chicago Catholic League, Illinois Basketball Coaches Association, Chicagoland Sports Hall of Fame, and Chicago State University. Hallberg also received the Distinguished Alumni Award from Chicago State University.
Not only is Hallberg an amazing coach, but he’s a great man as well. In the words of SXU Deputy Sports Director Moises Reynaga, “Being able to cut my teeth as a freshman sports reporter and announcer showed me that Coach Hallberg isn’t just a great coach, but a tremendous individual as well.”
Sports Director Matthew Aung is sad to see Coach Hallberg leave, but happy for all the great memories he has of him. He fondly reminisces on their time together, stating,“I just recently discovered that Coach Hallberg was battling an illness – I refuse to use the ‘c’ word. Firstly, I want to express what an honor, privilege, and blessing it has been to have gotten to know Coach Hallberg so closely over the past few months. I have followed Coach and SXU Women’s Basketball closely since the start of my freshman year.”
Aung goes on to directly express his gratitude to Coach Hallberg, stating,”It’s been a real honor to watch you, Coach, and help mold all your players into great individuals as well as great players. I also admire your great kindness and generosity. Especially when you and the coaching staff allowed Moises and I to travel on the team bus to the DePaul Tournament and be a part of the team meal afterwards. That was one of the highlights of my entire tenure at SXU and an experience I won’t forget. To close, Coach Hallberg, I want you and your family to know that you are in my family’s and my prayers. We’re always going to be thinking of you all.”
Coach Hallberg was able to touch the lives of countless individuals here at Saint Xavier University, and at the colleges and high schools were he coached. The SXU Community will always remember Coach Hallberg and the tremendous impact he left.
From all of us at WXAV and the Xaverite, thank you Coach for your years of service to the community.
Matthew Aung & Moises Reynaga
Sports Contributors