Hala Corral steps down as Prairie girls basketball coach

Hala Corral finally accepted that long-earned promotion. It meant leaving behind Prairie girls’ basketball.

After accepting the position of vice president at Albertsons Companies this spring, Corral submitted her resignation as head coach of Prairie girls’ basketball in April. Her new position is located in Boise, Idaho. She has worked for the company for 33 years.

Corral was head coach at Prairie for four years, putting her career progression aside to coach her daughter, Allie, the past four years. She won a state championship, four league titles — extending the program’s streak to 23 straight — and compiled an 80-21 record during her tenure.

“There’s never an easy time to leave or an easy time to step aside. I thought I’d least go another year or two,” Corral said. “There have been other opportunities where promotions have come up … and I’ve put my career on hold. So when this opened up, it was hard but it’s something I’ve wanted for 30 years.”

After exceeding expectations the past season, the Falcons bowed out in the regional round of the 3A state tournament. It was a month later that Corral submitted her resignation and a couple weeks after that when she got the nerve to tell her athletes.

“That was the toughest part. I didn’t know how to tell them,” Corral said. “I just told them I loved them and cared about them. … I’ll still come down and watch the big games when I can. They have a really bright future.”

With Corral’s departure, Prairie bids adieu to a family that has long been a prominent Falcons’ household. Ashley Corral was a McDonald’s All-American, Heather Corral won a state title in 2012 and Allie Corral won a title in 2019, the school’s seventh.

That most recent title was a banner achievement for the entire household, as Allie, Ashley (assistant) and Hala (head coach) all got their first state basketball championships.

“That was really special,” Hala Corral said. “I know the girls will never forget that. The proudness comes from the fact that these girls will get to be state champions for the rest of their lives.”