VALE Paul Hallam 1969-2024

29 November 2024

VALE Paul Hallam 1969-2024

It is with incredible sadness that we inform the athletics community of the passing of well-loved coach Paul Hallam, aged 55.

Paul passed away on Thursday of a rare lung condition which effects one in four million people.

A talented junior sprinter, from his mid-20s Paul sought out knowledge from the best coaches around the world for self-improvement, but the reality was this humble coach and expert strength conditioner became the one sought out by Australia’s coaches and athletes. He reached the highest level in our sport as a successful Olympic track and field coach.

A mathematics teacher with degrees in Applied Science (Coaching) and Education (Physical Education) he was Head Coach of Athletics at Endeavour Sports High School and then Director of Athletics at Barker College.

Initially a scholarship coach at the NSWIS in 2003/04, in December 2005 he was appointed Athletics Australia’s National Event Coordinator for Sprints & Relays based out of NSWIS. The level 4 coach brought 15-years of coaching expertise to the role. He received his first national team appointment in 2006 to the Australian Commonwealth Games team where he coached the women’s 4x100m relay to a bronze medal. He was also on the Australian team management for the 2007 World Championships.

In April 2009 NSWIS launched the 400 metres Fast Track program under the direction of Paul Hallam, Mike Hurst, Paul Laurendet and Penny Gillies.

A highlight in Paul’s career was as the men’s 4x100m relay coach at the 2012 London Olympics where the team placed sixth in the final after clocking an equal national record of 38.17 in the heats. This time remained the national record for 12-years until it was recently broken at the Paris Olympics. The sixth place remains our equal best ever men’s performance at the Olympics.

In later years Paul had moved from just coaching to Speed & Technique and Strength and Conditioning Consultant at the NSW Institute of Sport. His knowledge in S&C was exception and was highly sort after by all sports.

A group at NSWIS Paul assisted were the best triathlon squad in the World, Jamie Turner’s Wollongong Wizards. He worked on their running and sprint finish. They included: Gwen Jorgensen, Jake Birtwhistle, Aaron Royle, Natalie Van Coevorden, Ryan Bailie, Grace Musgrove, Charlotte McShane, Tamsyn Moane-Veale, Bárbara Riveros and Brendan Sexton.

He returned to the private school system serving as Strength & Conditioning/Athletics Coach at St Joseph’s College, following by his most recent role as Cranbrook School's Head of Athletic Performance & Associate Director of Sport.

With his most recent job at Cranbrook School, Paul assembled a great group of coaches who included quality young coaches like Jack Darcy, Alec Diamond, Ray Russell and Tay-Leiha Clark. Each coach benefited enormously learning from Paul’s knowledge. For the students at the school they have felt the loss as Paul had a great ability to communicate messages to all the boys to help them be better athletes and people.

Throughout his career Paul maintained a personal coaching squad which included some of Australia’s best sprinters. His step-daughter Jacinta Doyle represented Australia as a junior and has gone on to be one of Australia’s best emerging coaches, including guiding Paralympian Telaya Blacksmith. Some other athletes included Carly Rodger, Patrick Fakiye, Laura Turner, Charlie Hallam, Elly Graf and Daniel Batman (400m 45.02).

One of his best was Commonwealth Games finalist Ambrose Ezenwa who ran very quick times of 10.18 and 20.71.

Most recently his squad had included Josh Clarke, Jessica Thornton and Teri Fragiadakis, Tay-Leiha Clark, Tomysha Clark, Isabellah Walker and Emma Lee.

Paul Hallam was not just one of the best sprint coaches in Australia he was enormously respected by so many on strength conditioning. Some of the strength and conditioners and coaches Paul worked with included Michael Dooley, Dan Pfaff, Peter Lawler, Matt Beckenham, Jacinta Doyle, Rob Marks, Jamie Turner, Adam Castricum, Mike Hurst, Paul Laurendet, Lindsay Watson, Penny Gillies, Rudolf Sopko, Angus McEntyre, David Young, Jason Howell, Cliff Mallett, Keith Connor, Tay-Leiha Clark, Jack Darcy and Alec Diamond.

For 20 years Paul had a great relationship with Dan Pfaff. He would visit Dan to build his knowledge and would encourage other coaches to visit to also benefit. They would almost talk weekly to discuss athletes and ideas around coaching.

Paul had an enormously positive impact on hundreds of athletes and coaches and will be greatly missed by the athletics community.

Paul lost his battle with the lung disease Idiopathic Pulmonary Hemosiderosis (IPH) overnight while waiting for a double lung transplant.

We send our condolences to his family Lisa, Jacinta, Chloe, Holly and Charlie, his friends, and the many athletes and coaches who knew Paul.

RIP Paul Hallam.

David Tarbotton for Athletics NSW

Thanks to Michael Dooley for his assistance.