Troy Hall
Former USA Eagle. Clemson Rugby Head Coach. Speaker on Resilience, Leadership & High Performance.
From losing my father at six years old to representing the USA on the international stage and getting cut from 2 Rugby World Cups, I share powerful lessons on overcoming adversity, embracing uncertainty, and building resilience through life's toughest setbacks.
Keynote Speaker | Leadership Events | Sports Teams - High School, College, or High Performance Level
ABOUT TROY
Raised in New Zealand, I lost my father at age six and grew up in a close-knit community that shaped his values early.
Without a clear academic path, I left home (New Zealand) at 19 and built a life through rugby, travel, and uncertainty across New Zealand, Australia, England, and the United States.
Many years later, I went on to represent the USA Eagles in both 7s and 15s rugby from 2008-2015.
Along the way, my journey included major setbacks:
Cut from the 2011 Rugby World Cup (last man)
Neck surgery in 2010 and ACL recon in 2013
Ruled out of playing the All Blacks the night before kickoff (October 2014)
Cut from the 2015 Rugby World Cup (last man)
Despite this, I continued to evolve as both a player and coach, building experience in youth development, performance coaching, and leadership.
Today, I’m a Dad of 3, married to Dr. Sarah Hall (20 years now) and the Head Coach of Clemson Rugby, where I lead a high-performance program focused on developing athletes on and off the field.
KEYNOTE TOPICS
Resilience Through Adversity
Turning setbacks into growth and long-term performance.
Courage & Change
Making bold decisions in uncertain environments.
Leadership & Culture
Building teams that perform under pressure.
SIGNATURE TALK
From Setback to Opportunity
A powerful story of resilience, leadership, and growth through adversity across sport, life, and business.
Three times in my rugby career, I experienced setbacks that could have defined me.
In 2011, I was cut from the Rugby World Cup squad.
In 2014, I was selected to play against the All Blacks - my home country - only to be told the night before the match that I couldn't play.
In 2015, after fighting my way back through injury and retirement, I was cut from the Rugby World Cup squad again.
At the time, each one felt devastating.
The truth is, one would have been hard enough. But looking back now, those moments became some of the greatest gifts of my life.
They taught me resilience.
They taught me perspective.
They taught me that our toughest moments often reveal who we really are.
Most importantly, they made me a better coach, a better husband, and a better dad. Today, I believe one of the greatest challenges we face is that too many people give up on themselves too soon.
The first setback arrives. The first rejection comes. Things don't go according to plan.
And they stop.
My message is simple: Don't let one moment define your story.
Success isn't about avoiding adversity. It's about learning how to respond to it. Because often the setbacks we wish never happened become the very experiences that prepare us for the life we're meant to live.
That's the lesson I carry with me every day, and the lesson I hope to pass on to every athlete, leader, parent, and young person I have the opportunity to serve.
AUDIENCES
Sports Teams
High School, Collegiate, Adult
Leadership Events
Fundraising & Community events
Delivery formats
In-person keynote (preferred)
Virtual keynote (Zoom / Teams)
Workshops / Q&A sessions (optional add-on)
NEXT STEPS
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