Alabama Track & Field Hires Ryan Hays as Pole Vault and Multi-Events Coach
10/10/2018 10:29:00 AM | Track & Field, Cross Country
Kansas graduate joins the Crimson Tide staff from Missouri-Kansas City
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – University of Alabama track & field head coach Dan Waters announced on Wednesday the hiring of Ryan Hays as the program's pole vault and multi-events coach. Hays comes to Alabama from Missouri-Kansas City, where he spent the last three seasons serving as the Kangaroos' vertical jumps coach.
"Ryan Hays has established himself as one of the sharp young minds in the most highly-technical event in our sport in a very short period of time," UA head coach Dan Waters said. "He brings a tremendous amount of recruiting energy to our staff and solidifies our pole vault and multi-events coaching position. He comes from a great coaching tree and family of pole vault coaches. We're excited to welcome Ryan to the Crimson Tide track and field family."
During his tenure with UMKC, Hays' vaulters established new school records in the men's indoor pole vault and the men's and women's outdoor pole vault as well as several other marks that rank among the school's all-time performances in the event. Hays also coached Christy Neil to the 2017 Western Athletic Conference women's outdoor pole vault championship as the Kangaroos captured the men's and women's outdoor team titles that season.
"I'm grateful for this opportunity to join the Alabama Track & Field program," Hays said. "I want to thank Dan Waters for this opportunity. Coach Waters has made this program great and I hope to help continue that success. I am excited to start coaching our student-athletes and get to work. I am also thankful for head coach Shameika McField and her support while I was at UMKC. I wish that staff all the best in the future."
Prior to his stint at UMKC, Hays served as a volunteer assistant pole vault coach at his alma mater, the University of Kansas, from 2010-14. During his tenure in Lawrence, Hays worked with a pair of NCAA pole vault champions – Jordan Scott (2010 NCAA men's outdoor) and Natalia Bartnovskaya (2013 women's indoor) and a pair Big 12 men's pole vault champions – Casey Bowen and Scott.
The Jayhawk women also won the 2013 NCAA outdoor track & field championship as well as back-to-back runner-up finishes at the NCAA Indoor Track & Field Championships and won the 2013 Big 12 indoor crown during his time with the program.
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