| Jim Hayes is a 1994 graduate
of Hamline and helped lead the Pipers to the conference tournament
as a senior. Hamline athletics photo |
You could say that Jim Hayes is coming home to the Hamline men’s basketball program. He played here for four seasons and is ranked fifth in career rebounds and ninth in points. He served as an assistant coach here for a decade afterwards and also worked as an administrative assistant in the athletic department.
Now the circle is complete. The Rochester, Minn., native and St. Thomas assistant coach was named as the school’s new head men’s basketball coach today. “Jim knows Hamline ... and the MIAC ... as well as anybody,” said Jason Verdugo, HU athletic director. “His pedigree as a player and as a coach is outstanding. We’re very excited he is returning to Hutton Arena.”
He replaces Nelson Whitmore, who was removed from the sidelines midseason following an incident in which a member of the team was arrested for punching a woman on a road trip and breaking her jaw.
Whitmore was suspended Jan. 4, at which point the
Pipers were 6-4. They called off the following game because of
multiple player suspensions, and finished the season under Verdugo,
the former baseball coach, going 2-12.
A two-year captain and all-MIAC player, Hayes led the Pipers to a
rare playoff appearance in his senior season, 1993-94. Upon
graduation, he stayed at his alma mater, serving as an assistant
for the next ten seasons. HU became a defensive stalwart in that
time period. In his final season here, the Pipers finished second
in the league without the ball, holding opponents to just 41.5
percent accuracy.
“It is a dream come true to be coming home to lead the
program,” Hayes said. “I am fortunate to have played
for and coached with tremendous mentors that have prepared me for
this opportunity. I am looking forward to reconnecting with
our incredible alumni and the Hamline campus, while also helping
our student-athletes pursue excellence on and off the court.
“
Hayes also spent seven seasons at Carleton and most recently served
as an assistant coach with conference rival St. Thomas.
The Knights made the playoffs every year Hayes was there, finishing
third or higher in five of those seasons. The 2005-06 contingent
tied for first place, the school’s first men’s hoop
title in 41 years. St. Thomas has lost just five league games in
his two seasons there and went 30-2 this season.