Rutgers Mourns Passing of Lacrosse Legendary Coach Tom Hayes
One of the greatest coaches to grace athletics at Rutgers University, Tom Hayes, who coached men’s lacrosse for 25 years passed away this week. He was 82.
From 1975 to 2000, Hayes patrolled the sidelines, leading the Scarlet Knights to 194 victories, 21 winning seasons and 24 seasons of top 20-rankings. Hayes guided 55 players to All-American accolades and had 30 North-South All-Star game participants. His teams competed in five NCAA tournaments, including back-to-back appearances in 1990 and 1991. Hayes also accomplished a number of firsts with the Scarlet Knights, including leading the first team to win 11 games in a season (1986), the first victory in an NCAA tournament game (1986) and the longest winning streak of nine (1982).
From Rutgers Athletics:
“One of the things I believe in and tried to pass on to my former players is that you’re going to get a lot out of this sport, so make sure you put something back into it,” Hayes said at the time of his Hall of Fame induction in 2017. “I think we’ve definitely done that and I’m proud of them for that.”
“Following his tenure as RU head coach, Hayes remained involved in the sport. He was a member of the Federation of International Lacrosse, established in 2008 to serve as the sport’s international governing body and served as the organization’s president from 1994-2002, also holding roles as vice-president, secretary-treasurer, general delegate, Marketing Committee Chair and Development Committee Chair.
“Hayes was on the US Lacrosse Foundation board of directors, president of the US Lacrosse Coaches Association, USILA Rules Committee Chairman, USILA International Games Committee Chairman, general manager of Team USA and a Pre-Olympic Tournament Committee member among his many positions contributing to the sport. A two-time “USILA Man of The Year” and winner of the USILA Frenchy Julien Service Award and New Jersey Lacrosse Man of the Year Hayes was also inducted into the Sewanhaka High School, U.S. Lacrosse, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Long Island Lacrosse Halls of Fame.
“He’s an icon,” said Reid Jackson in 2017, as Hayes was inducted into the Rutgers Athletics Hall of Fame. “He is the Vince Lombardi of lacrosse. He’s a giver and not a taker. He does everything to promote this game.”
“Jackson was one of two players to play for Coach Hayes that went on to play internationally and win world championships with Team USA, joining fellow Rutgers Athletics Hall of Fame Class of 2017 member, Bob Vencak.
“‘I’ve known Coach Hayes for a long time, and playing for him was very positive,” said Jackson, who played for Hayes from 1991-1994. “He not only cared about you as an athlete or teammate, but he cared about you as a person. He cared about your life in general. He wanted you to succeed at everything. I really enjoyed playing for him and I think that’s why we’re still friends. He always cared about not only what you did on the field, but what you could do for your community and everything. It speaks to who he is.'” (RUTGERS ATHLETICS PRESS RELEASE).