Jim Hayes, a 1994 Hamline alum, was named the head men’s basketball coach prior to the 2013-14 season and is in his 12th season during the 2024-25 academic year. Hayes played for HU for four seasons and ranks fifth in career rebounds and 14th in points in the school’s record book. He also served as an assistant coach here for a decade afterwards and worked as an administrative assistant in the athletic department.
That pedigree earned public recognition when, on November 7, 2015, Jim was formally inducted into the school's athletic Hall of Fame.
In each of his first two seasons at the helm, the Pipers improved on their final record. The 2014-15 team beat MIAC playoff foes St. John's and Concordia, and Northwestern (which made it to the Sweet 16 in the NCAA D-III tournament) en route to an 11-win season.
In his fourth season in 2016-17, Hayes led HU to a 14-12 overall record complete with wins at St. Thomas (for the first time since 1979) and sweeps of Gustavus Adolphus and St. Olaf. The Pipers made the MIAC playoffs that season as well, marking their first appearance since 2010-11.
The following season in 2017-18, Hayes and the Pipers notched a 13-12 record with wins over St. Thomas (for the second year in a row) and Williams (then ranked No. 5 in the country). It marked the first time in six years that HU has had a winning season in back-to-back years.
In 2021-22, Hayes led the Pipers to their first MIAC Tournament victory since 2010-11 with an 89-64 decision over St. Mary's (Minn.) in the first round.
The Rochester, Minnesota native led the Pipers to new heights in 2022-23 as their 15-12 overall record, and advancement to the MIAC Tournament Semifinal were benchmarks the program hadn't achieve since 2010-11. This was much do to their disciplined demeanor as they finished the season ranked 10th in the country in fewest turnovers per game (10.5), and 23rd in fewest fouls per game (13.7).
Hayes and the Pipers continued to raise the bar with a 17-11 record in 2023-24, the most victories in a season since 1976-77. The No. 4 seed Pipers secured their second ever trip to the MIAC Tournament Championship Game on February 24, 2024, where they dropped a 72-71 decision to No. 3 seed Gustavus Adolphus. Among the highlights of 2023-24 was a seven-game win streak, which hadn't been achieved since 1990-91. HU's 2.4 turnover margin and 12.96 turnovers forced per game in 2023-24 both led the MIAC.
Hayes has coached nine MIAC All-Conference selections throughout his 11 seasons at the helm, including two-time All-MIAC team members Dior Ford, Zach Smith, Bradley Cimperman, and Austin Holt. The Pipers have accumulated seven double-digit win seasons, one MIAC Defensive Player of the Year, and three MIAC All-Playoff Team selections under Hayes' leadership.
A two-year captain and All-MIAC player, Hayes led the Pipers to a playoff appearance in 1993-94, his senior season. Two decades later, he is still fifth all-time in school history in rebounds with 554 and one of just 14 players who has scored 1,200 points in his career. Upon graduation, he stayed at his alma mater, serving as an assistant for the next 10 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 leading this program,” Hayes said. “I am fortunate to have played for and coached with tremendous mentors that have prepared me for this opportunity. I enjoy continuing to connect with our incredible alumni network and the Hamline campus, while also helping our student-athletes pursue excellence on and off the court.”
Before returning to his alma mater, Hayes spent seven seasons at Carleton and was an assistant coach at St. Thomas.
Hayes and his wife Andrea (a Hamline women’s basketball alum and 2000 graduate) have three children, Sevona, Tysen, and Carter.
