RUSTON, La. –On Wednesday, January 16, Louisiana Tech head volleyball coach Amber McCray announced the addition of Jane Hays to the coaching staff. Hays will take charge as the lead assistant and recruiting coordinator for the program.


 
"I am thrilled to have the opportunity to bring Coach Hays on board with me here at Louisiana Tech," McCray remarked. "In our six years working together at Panola, every day I witnessed firsthand the passion she has for recruiting, training and pouring into the student-athletes in our program. She was instrumental in our success there, and I am confident her competitive drive and relentless desire to keep learning more will be an incredibly valuable asset to our team here, as well."
 
Hays comes to Louisiana Tech after spending the previous six seasons as McCray's assistant at Panola College. While at Panola, she worked primarily with the team's outside hitters and defense, while helping guide the program to two National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) national tournament appearances.
 
Prior to her time at Panola, Hays spent two successful seasons as an assistant at her alma mater of East Texas Baptist University where she aided former Panola volleyball standout and current UT Tyler Head Coach Lyndsay Simpson Mashe in bringing in the program's top recruiting class in 2012 and again in 2013 by adding players from some of the premiere club programs in Texas. 
 
Hays was also an accomplished student-athlete at ETBU from 2006-2009, and a four-time All-American Southwest Conference East Division selection. The Tigers won or shared two ASC East Division titles during her career and advanced to the postseason every year during that span with Hays serving as a valuable team leader both on and off the court.
 
Hays' awards were not limited to just her athletic ability; she was a three-time All-ASC Academic selection, Distinguished Scholar Athlete selection, and a nominee for the prestigious 2010 NCAA Woman of the Year award.

Serving as a three-year captain, Hays is the only player in ETBU volleyball history to rank in the top 10 all-time in kills, digs and aces. She ranks fourth all-time in career kills and digs with 1,432 kills and 1,227 digs, and third all-time in aces with 141.
 
Hays was also a member of the ETBU softball team from 2006-2008.

The Hereford, Texas native was a three-sport star in high school, competing in volleyball, basketball and softball. An all-state selection in both volleyball and softball, Hays ranks among the top all-time athletes to come from Hereford High School.
 
Hays has coached several club teams including Young Guns Volleyball Club which was nationally ranked during her time with the team, and now most recently for East Texas Juniors for the past seven years.

Hays graduated Cum Laude from ETBU in 2010 with a B.S.E. in Secondary Education with an emphasis in history.
 
Hays' hiring is pending the approval of the Board of Supervisors for the University of Louisiana System.
 
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