Jim Hayford caps his 10 years at Whitworth with two trips to the Elite 8, an in-season No. 1 ranking and a .792 winning percentage. Whitworth athletics file photo

Whitworth's Jim Hayford has become the first Division III head men's basketball coach to jump directly to a Division I head coaching job since 2008. He was named head coach at Eastern Washington.

Hayford, whose Pirates went 28-2 this past season before falling at Wooster in the Elite Eight, is 217-57 in 10 years at Whitworth and 254-84 (.751) as a collegiate head coach.

“Whitworth has been so good to me and my family the past ten years,” Hayford said. “While to an outsider this decision might appear to be an easy one, this is one of the toughest decisions I’ve ever had to make and I will forever be grateful to Whitworth.

“The men I have coached have made every day special for me. The accomplishments speak for themselves. But the real wins are those relationships.”

Eastern Washington declined to renew the contract of coach Kirk Earlywine after a season in which the Eagles went 10-20, 7-9 in the Big Sky Conference. 

In 2011 Whitworth achieved its first-ever No. 1 ranking in men’s basketball and advance to the Division III Sectional Finals (Elite Eight) for the first time. The Pirates finished 28-2, setting school records for most victories in a season and best single-season winning percentage (.933). Hayford was named the NWC Coach of the Year for the fifth time in his career.

Whitworth athletic director Warren Friedrichs said, “Jim’s 10-year tenure as our basketball coach produced many excellent teams and numerous All- Conference selections and the men’s basketball games provided great entertainment and excitement for our campus community.

“To be able to move from NCAA Division III to a Division I program is a great and rare opportunity for Jim,” Friedrichs continued.  “He will make EWU very competitive in the Big Sky Conference.  He is an excellent coach regardless of the level of competition.”

Under Hayford’s guidance, Whitworth won five Northwest Conference championships in his ten seasons: 2003, 2007, 2008, 2010, 2011. The Pirates advanced to the Division III NCAA Tournament on six occasions: 2003, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011 and reached the Sweet 16 in 2008, 2010 and 2011.

Whitworth hosted NCAA Division III men’s basketball tournament games each of the last four seasons, winning all four contests. Three were NCAA second round games after Whitworth was granted a first-round bye.

During his 10 seasons leading the Pirates, Hayford coached six Northwest Conference Players of the Year: Bryan Depew (2003), Lance Pecht (2006), Bryan Williams (2007), Ryan Symes (2008), Nate Montgomery (2010) and Michael Taylor (2011). During the same period, 24 Whitworth players earned All-NWC honors, including 18 First Team selections.  Depew, Montgomery and Taylor were All-America honorees and this winter Taylor was selected as the Division III Player of the Year by both D3hoops.com and the NABC.

Prior to coming to Whitworth, Hayford was head coach at the University of Sioux Falls, where he compiled a 37-27 record in two seasons. During his inaugural season (1999-2000) he led the Cougars to their first conference playoff appearance in five years. The team finished 15-15 after losing in the SDIC championship game. Hayford's Cougars finished the 2000-01 season 22-12 and lost to the eventual NAIA Division II champions (Northwestern, Iowa) in double overtime in the Great Plains Athletic Conference championship game. His team set a school record for wins in a season. Prior to Hayford's arrival, USF was 9-17 in 1998-99.