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Tim Hays

Tim Hays

  • Title
    Head Women's Basketball Coach
  • Email
    thays@seu.edu
  • Phone
    863-667-5312
Tim Hays came to Southeastern in 2016 as the women's basketball coach.
 
The veteran of NCAA Division I, Division II, and the professional 9279ranks, Hays guided the Fire to an incredible run in his first season. SEU ran of 28-straight victories, securing consecutive Sun Conference regular season and tournament championships. The next week, Hays and the Fire picked up the first win by a Sun Conference program at the NAIA Division II Women's Basketball National Championship, defeating Valley City State 87-58. The season came to an end in the national quarterfinal with a loss to eventual national champion, Marian (Ind.).

9640Bailey Hooker was named The Sun Conference Player of the Year, and became the first NAIA First-Team All-America selection in program history. Hooker and Christin Strawbridge were both selected to the CoSIDA First-Team Academic All-America Team as well.

As a team, the Fire led the nation in scoring defense (55.2 ppg), field goal percent defense (33.7%), and field goal percentage (49.3%).

Hays picked up where he left off in his second season with the program, leading SEU to its second straight undefeated regular season (27-0), third straight TSC Tournament Championship, and fourth straight appearance in the NAIA National Championship.

Senior guard Ana Richter turned in a remarkable season under Hays' guidance. Richter averaged 22.75 points per game and led the nation in field goal percentage (.689). She was an eight-time Sun Conference Player of the Week, two-time NAIA National Player of the Week, The Sun Conference Player of the Year, an NAIA First Team Academic All-American, and NAIA Division II First Team All-American.

In 2018-19, Hays guided SEU to a third-straight Sun Conference Regular Season and Tournament Championship and all the way to the NAIA National Tournament Championship Game, where the Fire fell to Concordia (Neb.) 67-59.

In 2019-20, he coached the Fire to an unprecedented fifth-straight TSC Regular Season Championship and the program's fifth-consecutive appearance in the NAIA DII Women's Basketball Tournament, where they defeated Ohio Christian in the first round before the championship was canceled due to COVID-19.

During the first season of one combined division of NAIA women's basketball, Hays led the Fire to an impressive 26-3 record, a sixth-straight Sun Conference Regular Season Championship, as well as the TSC Tournament Title, and advancement to the NAIA National Tournament Second Round.

Hays came to the Fire after spending eight seasons as head coach at NCAA Division II Colorado Christian University. During his time in Lakewood, Hays led the Cougars to a 133-102 record and won the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Tournament championship in 2015, earning a trip to the NCAA Tournament.
 
Hays also helped the Cougars win the National Christian College Athletic Association national championship in 2012, earning National Coach of the Year honors.
 
“Tim brings a track record of character development and success at the NCAA II level,” said Watson. “He is a proven recruiter who will immediately impact a program that is already experiencing success.”
 
Before CCU, Hays spent three years coaching professionally in Australia, guiding the Launceston Tornadoes to a 30-16 record and earning ABA Coach of the Year honors in 2008.
 
Hays also spent time at NCAA Division I Montana State University as an assistant coach, serving as camp director, recruiting coordinator, and assisting with offensive game planning and play calling.
 
During his career, Hays has coached 28 all-conference players, six All-Americans, and six conference players of the year.
 
Year School Record Result
2008-09 CCU 14-15 NCCAA Regional
2009-10 CCU 18-10 RMAC East Division Champions
2010-11 CCU 18-11 NCAA DII First Round
2011-12 CCU 18-16 NCCAA National Champions
2012-13 CCU 18-11 RMAC Tournament Runners-Up
2013-14 CCU 15-13 RMAC First Round
2014-15 CCU 19-14 RMAC Champions/NCAA DII 
2015-16 CCU 23-10 RMAC Tournament Second Round
2016-17 SEU 28-1 TSC Regular Season/Tournament Champions/NAIA Quarterfinals
2017-18 SEU 31-1 TSC Regular Season/Tournament Champions/NAIA Quarterfinals
2018-19 SEU 31-3 TSC Regular Season/Tournament Champions/NAIA National Runners-Up
2019-20 SEU 27-3 TSC Regular Season/NAIA Second Round
2020-21 SEU 26-3 TSC Regular Season/Tournament Champions/NAIA Second Round
Totals: 286-111 .720%