John Hayes

Biography

Hayes by the Numbers: 2022 & 2024 ACC Men’s Cross Country Coach of the Year 4-time Southeast Region Men’s Cross Country Coach of the Year 2-time South Central Region Men’s Cross Country Coach of the Year 2003 South Central Region Women’s Cross Country Coach of the Year 2-time Big Sky Conference Cross Country Coach of the Year 14 NCAA Division I Cross Country Championship team appearances 20 Top-15 NCAA Division I team finishes in track and cross country 17 Division I conference championship team titles 7 NCAA Division I Champions 63 All-America Citations, including 35 at Wake Forest 4 ACC Cross Country Freshman of the Year awards 78 new Wake Forest school records 3rd in 2012, 5th in 2013, and 15th in 2025 USTFCCCA Program of the Year standings 3 USA 1500m National Champions John Hayes has served as Wake Forest's director of track and field and cross country since August of 2016. Over his career, Hayes has led his teams to 14 NCAA Division I cross country championship appearances, 20 top-15 NCAA team finishes in track and cross country, and 63 All-America honors, including seven NCAA individual titles. He coached two athletes to three USA 1500m titles between 2009 and 2014 and was selected a USA national team assistant coach at the 2022 World Athletics U20 Championships in Cali, Colombia. At the helm of Wake Forest, Hayes has returned the Demon Deacons to prominence in the ACC and on the national stage. Under his direction, Wake Forest student-athletes have broken school recor