The University of Central Oklahoma men’s basketball team has added coaching legend Dan Hays to its staff ahead of the 2017-18 season, head coach Tom Hankins announced Tuesday. Hays will serve in a volunteer assistant role.

“We are extremely excited to have Coach Hays join our team,” Hankins said. “He brings a great wealth of experience and knowledge to our program. Coach Hays is highly respected in the basketball world as well as the Edmond/Oklahoma City community. Our coaches and players are looking forward to all that Coach Hays will add to our program.”

That wealth of experience includes more than 700 wins as a head coach at the college level. He won 653 games at nearby Oklahoma Christian University, which stands as the most wins at one school in state history.

Hays is in the NAIA Hall of Fame, and this year was awarded the prestigious Guardians of the Game Award, a national award given by the National Association of Basketball Coaches to a coach making a considerable impact on players and their communities. It’s widely considered to be one of the highest coaching honors given by the NABC.

Central Oklahoma begins its season this November, opening with the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association/Great American Conference Crossover in Alva, Okla. on Nov. 10-11. UCO will play at Oklahoma Christian on Tuesday, Nov. 14. The Eagles play their home basketball games on Dan Hays Court.

http://bronchosports.com/news/2017/9/19/dan-hays-joins-mens-basketball-staff.aspx