Softball Completes Staff with Hunter Hays

[Coach Andy Mac]

DENTON, Texas – Head softball coach Rodney DeLong finalized his staff as Hunter Hays was named assistant coach for UNT on Wednesday.

“I’m excited and thankful to have the opportunity to come and be a part of a program like UNT,” Hays said. “Coach DeLong has done great things at UNT, and I can’t wait to have the opportunity to learn from him.”

Hays worked as an assistant coach at Oklahoma Christian for the past two seasons and helped guide the Eagles to consecutive berths in the NCAA Division II tournament. In his two seasons, 18 players collected all-conference awards with designated player Aaliyah Brown named to the DII All-America Second Team in 2022.

“I am excited about Hunter joining our program,” DeLong said. ‘“He’s a great person that comes from a very successful family of coaches. He definitely has the pedigree to be very successful in this profession. I am excited about the completion of our staff as this program continues to progress forward as we enter our first season in The American.”

Hays is the son of current Grand Canyon head coach, Shanon Hays, who has 554 collegiate victories over 14 years in softball and 58 wins as the men’s basketball coach over three seasons at Abilene Christian. Hunter’s grandfather, Larry Hays, is the winningest head coach in Texas Tech baseball history with 813 wins and current head coach for Colorado Christian softball.

Hunter Hays began his college baseball career at Abilene Christian in 2016, where he started 16 games as a freshman. In 2018, he transferred to play his final three seasons at DII Colorado Christian where he posted a .299 batting average over 107 games. Hays tallied 65 runs scored, 62 RBI and 21 doubles for the Cougars.

He held a graduate assistant position for Oklahoma Christian baseball program in 2021 after he finished his playing career. Hays graduated from Colorado Christian University with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration in 2020.

North Texas finished with a 35-22 record and advanced to the title game of the Conference USA Championship. The Mean Green had seven players honored with conference awards in 2023, the most of any team in CUSA.

Olympic Sport Passes for the 2023-24 UNT softball, soccer and volleyball seasons are available now. Fans can purchase a general admission Olympic Sport Pass for $75 to get season tickets to all three teams.