Bishop England coach Hall urging team to carry chip on their shoulder for 2026
Logan Hall was named the head coach of the Bishop England High School football team in 2024.
He inherited a program that won only seven times in 32 games over a three-year stretch while averaging only 12 points during the slump.
But Hall resurrected the program in his first season as the team went 9-3, won the Region 6-AAAA championship, and reached the playoffs, averaging 28.1 points a game.
It was more of the same last fall as Hall guided the Bishops to an 8-4 record and another berth in postseason play.
Now comes the hard part.
Hall will attempt to continue building positive energy and results despite the graduation of some key players who were two-year stars. Among the biggest losses were quarterback Quinn Mahoney, two-way star Brody Tonon, Zach Balog, and Hunter Alex.
Mahoney accounted for 4,686 in total offense and 53 touchdowns in two seasons, including 3,907 yards and 37 scores via the air. Balog was the top receiver while Alex led the team in tackles. Tonon’s play landed him a spot on the Wofford College roster.
If anyone can keep the Bishops’ good fortunes flowing, it’s Hall, a 35-year-old coach with a promising past – and future.
When the American Football Coaches Association announced its 2026 Leadership Institute’s 35 Under 35, it included a list of 34 college coaches – and Hall.
The program is designed to identify and develop future leaders in the football coaching profession under the age of 35.
The Bishops just completed spring practice, and their spring participation numbers were somewhat skewed because many of the football players play other spring sports. Still, Hall began searching for replacements while evaluating the returning talent.
“The key was to develop the young guys who are going to play big roles for us on Friday night,” he said. “Getting to Week 1 healthy and ready to go is important. We need a chip on our shoulders and outwork everybody. We need to focus on the process this summer and create good habits for success.”
There is talent on offense for the 2026 season, including up front as linemen Jake Olsen, Coleman Runey, Gavin Bailey, and John DiLiegro should open holes and provide pass protection.
William Donato is bidding to replace Mahoney at quarterback. Donato saw action when Mahoney was injured and responded with 337 yards and five TDs passing. Junior quarterback Banks Luton, who transferred from Oceanside Collegiate Academy, has potential.
Chase Tonon, Knox Mahoney, and Connor McGovern are more important pieces to the offensive puzzle.
On defense, Matthew Ponkow, Jackson Kunz, Luke Balog, and Luke Russell form an impressive front four, while Trevor Tonon and Knox Mahoney are skilled linebackers.
Finn Corley, Chase Tonon, and Donato are expected to see action in the secondary.
Hall saw many positives during spring practice.
“The offensive and defensive lines both played well,” Hall said. “Both quarterbacks, Banks Luton and William Donato, showed signs of growth over the spring. Connor McGovern is an athlete who can move around on the offensive side of the ball.”
The Bishops will drop to Class AAA after spending the past two at Class AAAA.
“We have to put together a great summer and a great fall camp,” Hall said of his team’s path to success. “We have to come out of non-region play with confidence and be healthy and give it a run.
“This year is a new region with Hanahan, Oceanside Collegiate Academy, North Charleston, and Georgetown. We are excited to match up with everyone and see how we match up as a school with the smallest enrollment out of the group. We are excited for the opportunity to prove we can compete with anybody, anywhere.”