University of Central Missouri Athletics

James Hayes begins his second season as the Assistant Men's Basketball Coach after helping the Mules to a 13-15 overall record including 8-14 in MIAA play highlighted by a pair of All-Conference performers in Tim Jordan Jr. (Honorable Mention) and Jordan Hayes (All-Defensive) while knocking off #22 Missouri Western (Jan. 27, 2023) by a final score of 68-60 inside the Jerry M. Hughes Athletics Center in Warrensburg. 
 
Hays spent the previous season as the Associate Head Coach of Moberly Area Community College in Moberly, Mo. In his second stint with the the Greyhounds, Hays helped MACC to a 30-4 overall record and an appearance in the second-round of the 2023 NJCAA DI Men's Basketball tournament. 
 
Hays is no stranger to the MIAA conference after spending the 2021-22 season as an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator at Lincoln University in Jefferson City, Mo. Prior to his time at Lincoln, Hays was on the Greyhound staff from 2019-21, helping MACC to a region 16 championship, a District championship and a National Tournament appearance while coaching and recruiting eight Division I signees.
 
Hays began his coaching career as an assistant with William Woods University in Fulton, Mo. from 2014-16 where he guided the team to their first-ever top 25 national ranking in school history. In November of 2016, Hays was named head coach where he led the Owls to their longest winning streak in program history, including a program-best 22 wins in 2016-17.
 
A graduate of Westminster College with a bachelor's degree in marketing and finance and a master's degree in athletic administration, Hays and his wife Markayla have two children Grayson and Emory.