Xavier University Athletics
Men's Basketball
- Title:
- Assistant Coach
- Email:
- hayesj11@xavier.edu
- Phone:
- 513.745.2851
Jonas Hayes, who was promoted in 2021 to Crawford Family Associate Head Coach, took over as Interim Head Coach before the second round of the 2022 NIT and led Xavier to the championship with four more victories. Hayes, 40, was named the Interim Head Coach on March 16, 2022.
Hayes was a big part of helping Travis Steele secure multiple nationally-ranked recruiting classes over the last three years. Hayes spent the previous six years on the staff of his alma mater, the University of Georgia, including five seasons as an assistant coach.
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 his 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, who was born in Atlanta, Georgia, graduated from Georgia in 2004 with a bachelor’s degree in child and family development.
