Men's Soccer Announces Hiring of John Michael Hayden
04.10.15 | Men's Soccer
CINCINNATI - Xavier men's soccer officially announced the hiring of John Michael Hayden as associate head coach on Friday.
"First off, I would like to thank Kris Bertsch for a tremendous tenure with our program," said head coach Andy Fleming. "He was with me from day one and his arrival to Xavier was surely a milestone in our program's emergence. "I've known John Michael as a recruit, a player and now as an eager, growing and talented young coach. He was a guy who redshirted at IU and then made himself into one of the nation's top players and a four-year professional -- and MLS Champion. He's one of a few who can stake a claim as a collegiate and professional champion having won two national titles at Indiana and one MLS Cup with Houston."
"His ability to train teams and serve as our technical director/trainer of sorts has been exactly what I thought it would be thus far and comes as no surprise. However, I've been pleasantly surprised with what a hungry recruiter and how well-rounded he is and how much reading he does as am eager learner and a sponge of sorts. His quiet and focused, yet intense personality meshes in well with our staff. With John Michael (31) and Chuck Rodriguez (25) I feel we truly have two of the best young coaches in college soccer."
Hayden joins the Musketeers after spending two successful seasons at Lipscomb, where he helped the Bison to a program-best 12-4-1 record and A-Sun regular season title in 2014. The Bison were 21-13-4 overall during his two years in Nashville, racking up several conference honors in the process. Hayden helped coach the 2014 A-Sun Defender of the Year, Luke Gearin, and the A-Sun Freshman of the Year, Ivan Alvarado.
Lipscomb received multiple votes in the NSCAA Top 25 and was ranked as high as No. 4 in the NSCAA Southeast Regional Poll during a landmark 2014 season.
Hayden came to Lipscomb via Louisville, where he spent a year helping lift the Cardinals to a 14-6-1 record and Elite 8 appearance in the NCAA Tournament.
For close to three years before his stint at Louisville, Hayden served as Director of Coaching with the Kentucky Fire Juniors USYSA club, obtaining his USSF National "A" coaching license and traveling to Spain with U.S. Soccer as part of a development workshop with the international powerhouses FC Barcelona and Real Madrid.
Hayden was a decorated player before transitioning into coaching, playing college soccer at Indiana and winning back-to-back NCAA Championships with the Hoosiers in 2003 and 2004. He scored an overtime header against No. 3 Maryland in the 2004 College Cup, sending IU to the championship game.
In his sophomore season, Hayden scored career-highs with seven goals, four assists and 18 total points -- tying for the team lead with six game-winners. Hayden was named Big Ten All-Conference in both 2004 and 2006 and was selected to the NCAA College Cup All-Tournament Team during the Hoosiers' 2004 title run.
In 2007, Hayden was selected 13th overall in the MLS SuperDraft by the Houston Dynamo. His pro debut came on July 10, 2007 in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup against Charleston Battery. In his rookie season, the Dynamo won an MLS Cup Championship. He wrapped up his professional career after signing with his hometown Louisville Lightning in January of 2010.
A two-time Parade Magazine All-American at Trinity High School in Louisville, Ky., Hayden was named NSCAA/adidas Kentucky Player of the Year along with Gatorade and Eurosport honors. When he signed with IU, he was recognized as a top-25 recruit by Soccer America.
On December 1, 2007, Hayden married Hollie Minogue, who played soccer for Louisville's women's team and the couple has two sons, Liam and Jacob.
"On behalf of Xavier, myself and our soccer family, I'd like to welcome John Michael, his wife Hollie and his boys Liam and Jacob to Cincinnati," said Fleming.
The Musketeers are coming off a season for the books, advancing to a first-ever NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 and setting a program record for victories (15).
