JU promotes assistant baseball coach Chris Hayes to head coach
Gene Frenette
As expected, Jacksonville University promoted longtime Dolphins' assistant baseball coach Chris Hayes to its head coaching position Friday morning in hopes he will continue the turnaround begun this season by former boss Tim Montez.
Earlier, sources told the Times-Union that Hayes, whose ties to the JU program date back to his playing days as a third baseman, was the presumptive choice from the moment the school administration elected to not renew Montez's contract after three years.
"I've received a lot of interest [in the baseball position], but I truly believe we have the best candidate on campus," said JU athletic director Alex Ricker-Gilbert. "[Hayes] is going to give everything to this program because it means so much to him. He's JU through and through."
Hayes, 42, has served two different stints as a JU assistant, the first time from 2004-08 under legendary coach Terry Alexander.
Hayes, an Englewood High School graduate, served as the head coach at Seminole State College for five seasons (record of 125-113-1) before returning to the Dolphins when Montez, who was also promoted from pitching coach in 2014 to replace Alexander, took over.
"I am so thankful and honored to have this opportunity presented by President [Tim] Cost and athletic director Alex Ricker-Gilbert," Hayes said. "This is home, in this town, at this institution.
"JU has provided so much for me in my growth as a student-athlete and as a coach. Now, I look forward to giving back to the university and our baseball family. It's going to be a fun journey. I'm ready to get started."
Despite JU posting its first winning season since 2011 this past season, finishing 33-22 overall and in third place in the Atlantic Sun at 14-7, Montez's contract wasn't renewed. He became the third Dolphins' coach to meet that fate in the past six months, joining football coach Kerwin Bell and men's lacrosse coach Guy Van Arsdale.
Hayes, who also played in the Toronto Blue Jays minor-league season for five years, will promote assistant coach/recruiting coordinator Chuck Jeroloman to lead assistant. He has also begun the process of searching for a pitching coach, who will oversee a staff that will be anchored next season by ace junior right-hander Michael Baumann.
Gene.frenette@jacksonville.com: (904) 359-4540