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Experience
Jacksonville University
Alma Mater
Direct
Style
Coaching Intelligence
Biography
Chris Hayes enters his tenth year as the head coach of Jacksonville University baseball in 2026. Through his first nine seasons at the helm of his alma mater, Hayes has led the Dolphins to over 250 wins, an ASUN Tournament Championship, two NCAA Regional appearances, and a regular-season ASUN Championship. Under his guidance, JU has produced numerous All-ASUN selections, Academic All-ASUN honorees, multiple Freshman All-ASUN picks, national award winners, weekly conference award recipients, and several MLB Draft selections and professional signees. The Dolphins have also collected more than a dozen victories over ranked opponents during his tenure, including wins over top-10 foes Florida, Miami, and Florida State. Hayes became just the fifth head coach in program history to surpass the 150-win mark, continuing to elevate Jacksonville Baseball on the conference and national stage. 2025 Hayes was a four-year starter at Jacksonville from 1992-95, was drafted on two occasions by MLB organizations (1994, Seattle; 1995, Toronto) and twice earned All-Sun Belt Conference honors. He also picked up all-regional accolades as a junior. Hayes led the Dolphins to consecutive NCAA Regional appearances (1994, 1995) and ranks among the all-time Jacksonville leaders in RBI (176), at-bats (802), hits (271), doubles (53) and total bases (402). Before launching his coaching career, Hayes spent five seasons (1995-2000) with the Toronto Blue Jays organization after being drafted in the 28th round of the Major League Baseball Amateur Draft. He played every infield and outfield position in five seasons with the Blue Jays’ minor league system finishing with a .276 career batting average. Over the course of his career, Hayes made stops in St. Catherines, Ontario; Hagerstown, Md.; Dunedin, Fla.; and Knoxville, Tenn. while in the minors. A native of Jacksonville, Hayes earned his bachelor’s degree from the University in finance in 1995 and his MBA in 2007.
Coaching Philosophy
Hayes believes in developing complete student-athletes who excel both on the field and in the classroom, as evidenced by his program's consistent production of Academic All-ASUN honorees alongside athletic achievements. His approach emphasizes competing at the highest level while building a culture that can consistently challenge elite competition, demonstrated by his team's ability to defeat top-10 ranked programs.
Known For
Program Culture
Jacksonville under Hayes operates with a family-first mentality rooted in his own experience as a player and alumnus of the program. The culture emphasizes competing fearlessly against anyone while maintaining high academic standards, creating an environment where players are developed as complete student-athletes prepared for success at the next level.
Career Path
Four-year starter at Jacksonville (1992-95), twice drafted by MLB (Seattle 1994, Toronto 1995), played 5 seasons in Toronto Blue Jays minor league system with .276 career average
Recruiting Priorities
- •Academic excellence and character (evidenced by numerous Academic All-ASUN selections)
- •Players who can compete against elite competition
- •Versatile athletes who can contribute immediately
Overview
Biography
Chris Hayes enters his tenth year as the head coach of Jacksonville University baseball in 2026. Through his first nine seasons at the helm of his alma mater, Hayes has led the Dolphins to over 250 wins, an ASUN Tournament Championship, two NCAA Regional appearances, and a regular-season ASUN Championship. Under his guidance, JU has produced numerous All-ASUN selections, Academic All-ASUN honorees, multiple Freshman All-ASUN picks, national award winners, weekly conference award recipients, and several MLB Draft selections and professional signees. The Dolphins have also collected more than a dozen victories over ranked opponents during his tenure, including wins over top-10 foes Florida, Miami, and Florida State. Hayes became just the fifth head coach in program history to surpass the 150-win mark, continuing to elevate Jacksonville Baseball on the conference and national stage. 2025 Hayes was a four-year starter at Jacksonville from 1992-95, was drafted on two occasions by MLB organizations (1994, Seattle; 1995, Toronto) and twice earned All-Sun Belt Conference honors. He also picked up all-regional accolades as a junior. Hayes led the Dolphins to consecutive NCAA Regional appearances (1994, 1995) and ranks among the all-time Jacksonville leaders in RBI (176), at-bats (802), hits (271), doubles (53) and total bases (402). Before launching his coaching career, Hayes spent five seasons (1995-2000) with the Toronto Blue Jays organization after being drafted in the 28th round of the Major League Baseball Amateur Draft. He played every infield and outfield position in five seasons with the Blue Jays’ minor league system finishing with a .276 career batting average. Over the course of his career, Hayes made stops in St. Catherines, Ontario; Hagerstown, Md.; Dunedin, Fla.; and Knoxville, Tenn. while in the minors. A native of Jacksonville, Hayes earned his bachelor’s degree from the University in finance in 1995 and his MBA in 2007.
Coaching Philosophy
Hayes believes in developing complete student-athletes who excel both on the field and in the classroom, as evidenced by his program's consistent production of Academic All-ASUN honorees alongside athletic achievements. His approach emphasizes competing at the highest level while building a culture that can consistently challenge elite competition, demonstrated by his team's ability to defeat top-10 ranked programs.
Known For
Program Culture
Jacksonville under Hayes operates with a family-first mentality rooted in his own experience as a player and alumnus of the program. The culture emphasizes competing fearlessly against anyone while maintaining high academic standards, creating an environment where players are developed as complete student-athletes prepared for success at the next level.
Career
Career Path
Four-year starter at Jacksonville (1992-95), twice drafted by MLB (Seattle 1994, Toronto 1995), played 5 seasons in Toronto Blue Jays minor league system with .276 career average
Recruiting Intel
Recruiting Priorities
- •Academic excellence and character (evidenced by numerous Academic All-ASUN selections)
- •Players who can compete against elite competition
- •Versatile athletes who can contribute immediately
Frequently Asked Questions
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