Alabama A&M Athletics

Willie Hayes enters his sixth year as head men's basketball coach with a young squad that returns just two starters.
But, those starters happen to be a pair of All-SWAC second team preseason selections - senior guard Rakiya Battle and senior center Quinterian McConico.
The Bulldogs were 11-18 last year, an improvement over the 9-19 2014-15 squad.
In 2013-14, Hayes led the Bulldogs to a 14-16 record and the semifinal round of the SWAC tournament.
In his second year at the helm, Hayes tallied a 11-20 record, a win over an SEC opponent for the first time in school history, his first post season win and first for A&M since the 2005-2006 season. The Bulldogs advanced to the semifinal round of the SWAC tournament and fell 72-59 to Southern.
He completed his first season as a head coach with a 7-21 overall record and a 5-13 conference mark in 2011-2012.  His club advanced to the first round of the SWAC tournament and fell 75-62 to Texas Southern.  
He served 16 seasons as Vann Pettaway’s top assistant after a stellar career on The Hill.
Hayes thrilled Bulldog fans with his pinpoint passing and deadly shooting. In 116 games as a player, Hayes averaged 14.6 points, 2.5 rebounds, 5.8 assists and 2.0 steals per game. He shot 47.4 percent from the floor, 35.3 percent from three-point range and 62.2 percent from the free throw line for his career. During his senior season, Hayes averaged 24 points, seven assists, and five rebounds per outing. Total, he tallied 1,688 points in the Maroon & White.
He earned All-SIAC and All-American honors in 1988 and 1989. He was a member of the SIAC All-Tournament team in 1989. Hayes was also named SIAC Player of the Year in 1989. During that year, Hayes was named A&M Male Athlete of the Year. He was the 1989 Mayor’s Cup Classic MVP and he was a member of the 1989 Extra Point Club All-American Team. For his efforts and accomplishments on the floor, Hayes was inducted into the Alabama A&M Athletic Hall of Fame in 2001.

After A&M, Hayes signed as a free agent with the New Jersey Nets of the NBA and played on their summer league team. He was drafted in 1989 by Sioux Falls of the Continental Basketball Association. From that point, Hayes continued his relationship with basketball working the NCAA men’s and women’s basketball tournament from 1990-1995 with CBS and Fox Sports.
He received his degree in physical education from A&M in 1990. Hayes and his wife Preanza have two children: Aamirah and Chrystal.