Xavier University Athletics
Travis Steele Adds Former Georgia Assistant Jonas Hayes To His Basketball Staff
04.09.18 | Men's Basketball
Hayes had been on the Georgia staff since the 2012-13 season.
CINCINNATI --- Xavier University men's basketball head coach Travis Steele announced today the addition of Jonas Hayes as an assistant coach. Hayes, 36, has spent the past six years on the staff of his alma mater, the University of Georgia, including the last five seasons as an assistant coach.
"I am excited to welcome Jonas Hayes as a new member of the Xavier Men's Basketball Staff," said Steele. "In Jonas I feel like I am hiring a future Head Coach. Jonas brings with him an incredible background of both recruiting success and player development. Jonas' focus will be on the development of our front court where he has thrived over the last five years at the University of Georgia."
"I'm unbelievably excited to join the tradition that has been established at Xavier," said Hayes. "I am also blessed Coach Steele has ask me to join "The Family." This is a phenomenal opportunity to continue my progression to hopefully fulfill my dream of becoming a Head Coach someday."
As a coach, Hayes played a major role in the development and production of Georgia's post players, including All-SEC performers Marcus Thornton and Yante Maten. Maten was the 2018 AP SEC Player of the Year.
In Georgia's 11 combined seasons with Hayes as a player or member of the staff, the Bulldogs earned seven postseason bids, including four of the last five seasons.
Georgia posted three consecutive 20-win finishes in Hayes' first three seasons as an assistant, just the second time in 112 seasons of play the Bulldogs have accomplished that feat.
Prior to joining the Bulldogs' staff, Hayes spent five seasons as an assistant coach at Belmont Abbey from 2007-12. He also was an assistant coach at South Carolina State (2006-07) and Morehouse (2005-06). Hayes returned to Georgia as operations coordinator for the 2012-13 season and moved into a slot as an assistant coach a year later.
As a player, Hayes was a three-year letterwinner and started 41 of 88 games played for the Bulldogs from 2001-04, averaging 8.6 points and 4.9 rebounds for his career. Hayes and his twin brother Jarvis played at Western Carolina as freshmen before transferring to Georgia in 2000. Jonas helped Georgia reach postseason competition twice, including the 2002 NCAA Tournament and 2004 NIT. Jonas started 29 games as a senior and averaged 11.9 points and 5.3 rebounds.
Hayes graduated from Georgia in 2004 with a bachelor's degree in child and family development.
"I am excited to welcome Jonas Hayes as a new member of the Xavier Men's Basketball Staff," said Steele. "In Jonas I feel like I am hiring a future Head Coach. Jonas brings with him an incredible background of both recruiting success and player development. Jonas' focus will be on the development of our front court where he has thrived over the last five years at the University of Georgia."
"I'm unbelievably excited to join the tradition that has been established at Xavier," said Hayes. "I am also blessed Coach Steele has ask me to join "The Family." This is a phenomenal opportunity to continue my progression to hopefully fulfill my dream of becoming a Head Coach someday."
As a coach, Hayes played a major role in the development and production of Georgia's post players, including All-SEC performers Marcus Thornton and Yante Maten. Maten was the 2018 AP SEC Player of the Year.
In Georgia's 11 combined seasons with Hayes as a player or member of the staff, the Bulldogs earned seven postseason bids, including four of the last five seasons.
Georgia posted three consecutive 20-win finishes in Hayes' first three seasons as an assistant, just the second time in 112 seasons of play the Bulldogs have accomplished that feat.
Prior to joining the Bulldogs' staff, Hayes spent five seasons as an assistant coach at Belmont Abbey from 2007-12. He also was an assistant coach at South Carolina State (2006-07) and Morehouse (2005-06). Hayes returned to Georgia as operations coordinator for the 2012-13 season and moved into a slot as an assistant coach a year later.
As a player, Hayes was a three-year letterwinner and started 41 of 88 games played for the Bulldogs from 2001-04, averaging 8.6 points and 4.9 rebounds for his career. Hayes and his twin brother Jarvis played at Western Carolina as freshmen before transferring to Georgia in 2000. Jonas helped Georgia reach postseason competition twice, including the 2002 NCAA Tournament and 2004 NIT. Jonas started 29 games as a senior and averaged 11.9 points and 5.3 rebounds.
Hayes graduated from Georgia in 2004 with a bachelor's degree in child and family development.
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