Hallmark comes to Mizzou after an impressive run at Rice, where he helped build the team into a national power. Aside from reaching NCAA Regional play in all 11 seasons with Hallmark on staff, Rice made three trips to the College World Series (2006-2008) with five Super Regional appearances. A proven winner and a catcher by trade, Hallmark transitioned to the Owls pitching coach role prior to the 2013 season and the team saw immediate success under his guidance. In 2015, Rice pitching finished 12th in the NCAA in strikeouts per nine innings (8.8) and registered the fifth-highest single-season saves total in school history (18) while also finishing among the NCAA's top teams for ERA (3.16), hits allowed per 9.0 innings (8.2) and WHIP (1.27). A total of five Rice pitchers were selected in the 2015 Major League Draft.
In 2014, Rice pitching finished 13th in the NCAA with a new school record for ERA (2.56). The Owls were also 20th in the nation in both fewest hits allowed per game (7.7) and WHIP (1.19). Rice pitchers registered 18 saves while also finishing with the program's lowest number of walks since the mid-1980s (192 walks in 573.1 inn., 3.0 per game). He mentored LHP Blake Fox to consensus All-America honors and 2014 Conference USA Pitcher of the Year accolades that year as well.
In his first year as pitching coach at Rice in 2013, his Owls set a Rice single season record with 12 shutouts, ranking second in the NCAA that year. Hallmark's versatility as a coach was paramount to Rice's success and appealed to Bieser, who was the model of versatility during his major league playing career. Before coaching pitchers, Hallmark was the Owls hitting coach and trained catchers and outfielders defensively.
Hallmark was a successful player, earning All-Southwest Conference honors in 1995 while guiding Rice to its first 40-win season in 11 years. He played nine years of professional baseball after being drafted by the Royals in 1995. He played in two minor league All-Star games and was part of three consecutive minor league champion teams from 1997-99.
"I am super excited to join Mizzou and Coach Bieser's staff," Hallmark said. "I've heard nothing but great things about him. His offensive teams at Southeast were incredible and I look forward to seeing what we can do together at Mizzou. Being part of the SEC is what every good coach wants. It's the biggest challenge there is in our profession. It is going to be a step up. It's going to fun and exciting and we have a lot of work to do, but I am really excited."
Hallmark at a Glance
- Houston, Texas, native
- Rice graduate (2002, human performance)
- Went to 11 consecutive NCAA Regionals, 5 NCAA Super Regionals and three College World Series at Rice
- Finished among the NCAA's top 25 in ERA in three of four seasons as pitching coach
- Set Rice school season records in ERA and shutouts as pitching coach
- Had 10 pitchers drafted in four years as Rice pitching coach
- Served as Rice's hitting coach and was in charge of defense for catchers and outfielders before moving to pitching coach
- All-Conference catcher at Rice, guiding team to first 40-win season in 11 years in 1995
- Selected in the 18th Round of the 1995 MLB Draft by the Royals
- Played nine seasons professionally, advancing as high as AAA
- Played in two minor league All-Star Games, hit better than .300 twice and had five seasons with 30+ steals
- Married to former Rice swimmer Jada Sanders and the couple has four kids, Christian (10), Tanner (8), Grayson (6) and Georgia (2).
