Maryville athletic director Kandis Schram has announced that Shaun Hayes will be the 29th head football coach in Maryville College's storied 122-year collegiate football history. Hayes will begin his seventh season with the Scots in the fall of 2015.
Hayes, a native of Rutledge, Tenn., graduated from Maryville with a degree in business and organizational management in 2006.
During his early time as a Scots assistant, Hayes served as the running backs coach helping to develop MC's all-time leading rusher, Rommel Hightower, who ended his career with 3,243 rushing yards.
This former Scot standout on the gridiron moved to the defensive side of the ball in 2008. During the 2008 campaign, Shaun directed a secondary that hauled in twelve interceptions on the season. Three of his defensive backs -- Bud Christy, Nick Jensen and Dustin Locke -- gained All-USA South recognition.
In 2009 Hayes was named the quarterback coach, recruiting coordinator and video coordinator. He developed MC's air attack to average over 210 yards per game. While in 2010, as the MC offensive coordinator, he developed freshman Dustin Williams to earn All-USA South honors after throwing for more than 1,600 yards and a dozen touchdowns, while completing 54 percent of his passes. In 2011 his signal caller, Melvin Burston, earned USA South Freshman of the Year honors following a standout campaign. He produced three all-conference quarterbacks in his first three seasons as the Scots' quarterback coach and offensive coordinator.
In 2012, MC quarterbacks ‑ under Hayes development ‑ completed 53% of their passes for over 1,500 yards and 13 touchdowns.
The 2013 USA South champions saw signal callers under his direction complete over 59% of their passes for over 2,000 yards and a dozen scores while throwing a league low five interceptions.
In 2014, former head coach Mike Rader promoted Hayes to assistant head coach, co-offensive coordinator and director of player personnel. MC's offense paced the USA South in rushing yards per game (271.5), ranking 10th nationally, while tossing for 1,367 yards and combining for 42 offensive touchdowns on the season.
"We make this announcement after a thorough process that gathered input from staff, players, alumni, boosters and community leaders on a tight timeframe," said Schram. "With recruiting underway and spring practices around the corner, it was important to fill the position quickly – but fill it with the right person. This search revealed that we already have the right leader within the program. Shaun has the dedication and passion to lead the program and the knowledge of what type of student-athlete will thrive within the Maryville College curriculum while excelling within the football program."
"I am honored and humbled to become the next head coach at Maryville College," stated Hayes. "The Maryville College tradition and reputation is something that is very important to me, and I plan on carrying it out on a daily basis. I understand the expectations as a Maryville College student-athlete and will hold everyone in our organization to that level. As for our players, I want to always provide a family-type atmosphere, while challenging them in numerous ways, to prepare them for the real world. I appreciate all the support from the faculty, staff and administration and look forward to working with everyone on a daily basis. As an alum, I can relate to the passion past players have for our program, and it's my goal to make them extremely proud of their institution and this program."
Maryville will begin the 2015 campaign with Hayes leading the program into their 123rd collegiate season. The Scots will open the 2015 campaign on Honaker Field on Sept. 5 when they host Berry.