Steve Hayn, who has 26 years of collegiate leadership experience, including 17 seasons as a head basketball coach, has been named Assistant Men’s Basketball Coach at Rutgers University. A Long Island native, Hayn was the 2014 Metropolitan Basketball Writers Division II Coach of the Year and served the past three seasons as the Scarlet Knights’ Senior Advisor.
“After meeting with many qualified candidates during a broad search, the best person for the position occupied the office next to mine,” said head coach Steve Pikiell. “Steve Hayn has been a successful head coach at the collegiate and high school levels, while specializing in the development of big men. His skill set and relationships are a perfect fit for our program as we continue our work towards the post-season.”
As senior advisor, Hayn served as a consultant to Pikiell with regard to all phases of the program and was involved with alumni relations development, community outreach, and life skills development.
Prior to his arrival “On the Banks,” Hayn spent the 2014-15 and 2015-16 campaigns as head coach at the United States Merchant Marine Academy.
Hayn has achieved success throughout his career at multiple levels. He directed the Mariners to wins over three top 25-ranked foes in 2015-16 to increase the team win total from its prior campaign. At his four head-coaching stops, Hayn’s programs have collectively averaged 7.75 more wins in his final season at the helm as compared to his first. Perhaps his best season came in 2013-14, when he led Dowling College to a 22-7 mark to earn both East Coast Conference and Met honors.
Hayn and Pikiell served as assistants together at Central Connecticut State under head coach Howie Dickenman. They helped take the youngest team in the country from just four wins in 1997-98 to a school-record 19 victories and a Northeast Conference Tournament finals appearance in 1998-99.
A two-time team captain at Stony Brook, Hayn began his coaching career at Port Jefferson (N.Y.) High School from 1993-95, before moving to the junior college ranks at Genesee Community College. In one season in Batavia (N.Y.) under Bill Van Gundy, he helped the team to a 26-6 record and the Region III semifinals.
Hayn moved to the Division I ranks at CCSU from 1996-99 and aided one of college basketball’s biggest turnarounds. In New Britain (Conn.) he also helped to recruit and coach 2002 NEC Player of the Year Corsley Edwards, who was a second round NBA Draft choice of the Sacramento Kings.
From 1999-01, Hayn was the head coach at the State University of New York at Fredonia (N.Y.). He directed the team to a 12-14 record in his first season, before producing an 18-11 mark in 2000-01.
Hayn spent five seasons as head coach at Stevens Institute of Technology. After an 8-18 record in his initial season (2001-02), his tenure culminated with a 15-12 record and the school’s first trip to the Skyline Conference semifinals in 2006. He also set the table for the Ducks to earn their first ever NCAA Tournament berth and a Sweet 16 appearance with a 23-7 record the next season.
The turnaround at Dowling under Hayn’s leadership was significant and easily quantifiable, as the team produced 16 more wins in his final season in 2013-14 (22-7), as compared to his first in 2006-07 (6-22). In addition to the on-court success, the Golden Lions also consistently posted a team grade point average approaching a 3.0 during his tenure.
A 1991 graduate of Stony Brook with a bachelor’s degree in Liberal Studies, Hayn earned a master’s degree in Special Education from C.W. Post in 1993. Prior to his coaching success, Hayn was a special education teacher from 1991-95. He is the proud father of two children, son Zachary (18) and daughter Sophie (15).
Steve Hayn Named Rutgers University Assistant Men’s Basketball Coach
