Wake Forest Athletics
John Hayes Named Southeast Region Coach of the Year
11/28/2022 10:31:00 AM | Cross Country
After leading the Wake Forest men’s cross country program to its first ACC title since 1994, Hayes earned Regional Coach of the Year honors for the third-consecutive season.
NEW ORLEANS - Director of track & field and cross country John Hayes was named Southeast Region Coach of the Year for the third-consecutive season, as announced by the United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association.
During the 2022 campaign, Hayes led the fifth-ranked Wake Forest men's cross country team to its first ACC title since 1994 and its best NCAA Championship finish (fifth) since 1989.
Individually, Hayes coached three All-Americans this season as Zach Facioni became the first three-time All-American in program history. Additionally, Luke Tewalt and Aaron Las Heras earned their first All-American nod marking the first time in program history that three Demon Deacons earned All-American honors in the same season.
Of note, Hayes also coached four All-ACC selections (Las Heras, Tewalt, Thomas Vanoppen and Facioni) which tied the program record for the most all-conference selections in a single season.
Despite coasting to a third place team finish at the NCAA Southeast Regional, Hayes coached Tewalt, Facioni, Las Heras and Vanoppen to All-Region honors.
During the 2022 regular season, the Demon Deacons finished no lower than sixth in any meet with their only finish outside the top three being the Cowboy Jamboree, which marked the first meet of the season for each of Wake Forest's seven competitors.
With this year's award, Hayes became the first head coach in program history to be named Regional Coach of the Year three times.
During the 2022 campaign, Hayes led the fifth-ranked Wake Forest men's cross country team to its first ACC title since 1994 and its best NCAA Championship finish (fifth) since 1989.
Individually, Hayes coached three All-Americans this season as Zach Facioni became the first three-time All-American in program history. Additionally, Luke Tewalt and Aaron Las Heras earned their first All-American nod marking the first time in program history that three Demon Deacons earned All-American honors in the same season.
Of note, Hayes also coached four All-ACC selections (Las Heras, Tewalt, Thomas Vanoppen and Facioni) which tied the program record for the most all-conference selections in a single season.
Despite coasting to a third place team finish at the NCAA Southeast Regional, Hayes coached Tewalt, Facioni, Las Heras and Vanoppen to All-Region honors.
During the 2022 regular season, the Demon Deacons finished no lower than sixth in any meet with their only finish outside the top three being the Cowboy Jamboree, which marked the first meet of the season for each of Wake Forest's seven competitors.
With this year's award, Hayes became the first head coach in program history to be named Regional Coach of the Year three times.
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