Coach Dan Hays— Setting Records in Oklahoma
By Peter Ewan
of Intercollegiate Athletics Hall of Fame in 1998, and Oklahoma Christian University Hall of Fame in 2002. In April 2011, as a unique tribute, the basketball court at OC was named “Dan Hays Court.”
However, meeting his wife, JoAnn (BS 69), while attending ENMU, is his best memory. JoAnn was the homecoming queen in 1968 and was inducted in the ENMU Educator Hall of Honor in 2011. Coach Hays has been inducted into three halls of fame: Greyhound Hall of Honor in 1996, National Association
Above: Day Hays coaching Oklahoma Christian vs. McMurry, February 7, 2013. Below: Dan Hays giving his players some inspiration during their November 1, 2010 game vs. Hillsdale Baptist.
Photo by Steven Christy, Oklahoma Christian University
His highly selective choice of players has led to success off the court as well. His players have a 90 percent graduation rate. When asked about this impressive statistic, Coach Hays replied, “I don’t recruit players who are not capable of earning a college degree.”
At ENMU he played under Coach Harry Miller for three seasons, 1965-1968. Coach Hay’s favorite ENMU sports memory was “getting the first dunk in the opening night of Greyhound Arena when we beat NCAA Division 1 Hardin–Simmons and then the next week beating New Mexico State, and then on to Kansas City, Missouri, for the NAIA National Tournament.”
Photo by Steven Christy, Oklahoma Christian University
D
an Hays (MS 70, BS 68), basketball coach at Oklahoma Christian University, has the most wins at Oklahoma institutions of any college basketball coach. His 700th win came last March against Spring Arbor, in the National Christian College Athletic Association quarterfinals. His current career record is 701-412, as he begins his 31st season at OC. He has led OC to nine NAIA Division I tournaments, the last in 2012, and made five trips to the Sweet 16.
Above: Dan Hays’ family from left to right, top row: daughter Michelle Lynn, grandson Danny Lynn, David Lynn, Charlie Michael, daughter Stacie Michael; Middle row: granddaughter Mackenzie Lynn, wife JoAnn Hays (BS 69), Dan Hays; Bottom row: grandsons Cale Michael and Tate Michael. Right: Dan Hays was very prominent on the Basketball pages of the Silver Pack yearbook.
From the Silver Pack Yearbooks 1966-1968 Green & Silver | November 2013
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