Larry Hays
Encyclopedia
Larry Hays was the head coach of the Texas Tech Red Raiders baseball
team from 1987 to 2008, and currently coaches women's softball at Lubbock Christian University
.
, but went to school in Dora
, where he played basketball and baseball in high school. After graduating from high school in the early 1960s, Hays attended Eastern New Mexico University
in Portales
. He was on the school's basketball team but played very little. As Hays put it, "I've always liked to say when I was at Eastern, that I averaged 30 a game. When I said that, people looked at me, and I would say '30 seconds, not 30 points."
After receiving a bachelor's degree from ENMU, Hays went on to Texas Tech
in Lubbock, Texas
where he earned his master's degree and pursued a Ph.D. He met all of the requirements of the latter but was hired to coach before completing his dissertation and never returned to the task.
Chapparals. He was promoted to head coach in 1969. When Lubbock Christian added baseball in 1971, he coached both teams for eight years before focusing exclusively on the latter. He led the Chaps to an NAIA national championship in 1983. He served as athletic director from 1979 to 1987.
In 2005, Hays became the fourth coach ever to gain 1,400 wins.
by a score of 7–5.
prior to the Texas Tech Red Raiders game against the Lubbock Christian Chaparrals. Texas Tech won the game 4–3.
. The LCU softball job opened up when Hays's son, Shanon Hays, moved over to Texas Tech to coach softball.
Texas Tech Red Raiders baseball
The Texas Tech Red Raiders baseball team represents Texas Tech University in NCAA Division I college baseball. The team competes in the Big 12 Conference and plays at Dan Law Field at Rip Griffin Park.-Early years:...
team from 1987 to 2008, and currently coaches women's softball at Lubbock Christian University
Lubbock Christian University
Lubbock Christian University is a private Christian university associated with the Churches of Christ located in Lubbock, Texas, in the United States. It was established in 1957. A fall 2011 count showed 2,038 students enrolled at Lubbock Christian University, of which 422 are graduate students...
.
Early life
Hays was born in Elida, New MexicoElida, New Mexico
Elida is a town in Roosevelt County, New Mexico, United States. The population was 183 at the 2000 census.The late Portales philanthropist Addie Peed Swearingen grew up in Elida and lived on a ranch there from 1960-1979...
, but went to school in Dora
Dora, New Mexico
Dora is a village in Roosevelt County, New Mexico, United States. The population was 130 at the 2000 census.Former Texas Tech Red Raiders baseball coach Larry Hays attended school in Dora.-Geography:Dora is located at ....
, where he played basketball and baseball in high school. After graduating from high school in the early 1960s, Hays attended Eastern New Mexico University
Eastern New Mexico University
Eastern New Mexico University , frequently called Eastern, is a state university in Portales, Roosevelt County, New Mexico, USA...
in Portales
Portales, New Mexico
Portales is a city in and the county seat of Roosevelt County, New Mexico, United States. The population was 11,131 at the 2000 census. Portales is located near the larger city of Clovis as well as Cannon Air Force Base, a major contributor to the economy of the region.Eastern New Mexico...
. He was on the school's basketball team but played very little. As Hays put it, "I've always liked to say when I was at Eastern, that I averaged 30 a game. When I said that, people looked at me, and I would say '30 seconds, not 30 points."
After receiving a bachelor's degree from ENMU, Hays went on to Texas Tech
Texas Tech University
Texas Tech University, often referred to as Texas Tech or TTU, is a public research university in Lubbock, Texas, United States. Established on February 10, 1923, and originally known as Texas Technological College, it is the leading institution of the Texas Tech University System and has the...
in Lubbock, Texas
Lubbock, Texas
Lubbock is a city in and the county seat of Lubbock County, Texas, United States. The city is located in the northwestern part of the state, a region known historically as the Llano Estacado, and the home of Texas Tech University and Lubbock Christian University...
where he earned his master's degree and pursued a Ph.D. He met all of the requirements of the latter but was hired to coach before completing his dissertation and never returned to the task.
Lubbock Christian
Hays began his coaching career when he was hired as the assistant basketball coach of the Lubbock Christian UniversityLubbock Christian University
Lubbock Christian University is a private Christian university associated with the Churches of Christ located in Lubbock, Texas, in the United States. It was established in 1957. A fall 2011 count showed 2,038 students enrolled at Lubbock Christian University, of which 422 are graduate students...
Chapparals. He was promoted to head coach in 1969. When Lubbock Christian added baseball in 1971, he coached both teams for eight years before focusing exclusively on the latter. He led the Chaps to an NAIA national championship in 1983. He served as athletic director from 1979 to 1987.
Texas Tech
Hays became the head coach at Texas Tech in 1987. In his time there, he led the Red Raiders to three conference championships and nine NCAA tournament appearances and posted a winning season every year but his first and final. At the time he arrived, Texas Tech had only won 525 games since the school reentered baseball in 1954.In 2005, Hays became the fourth coach ever to gain 1,400 wins.
800 wins at Texas Tech
On March 21, 2008, Hays won his 800th game at Texas Tech when the Red Raiders defeated the #13 Texas LonghornsTexas Longhorns baseball
The Texas Longhorns baseball team represents The University of Texas at Austin and competes in the Big 12 Conference of NCAA Division I.The Texas Longhorns are the winningest program in college baseball history in terms of win percentage with .740 and ranks second all-time in total wins to the...
by a score of 7–5.
1,500 career wins
On April 2, 2008, Hays became just the fourth coach in NCAA baseball history to win 1,500 games, 805 with the Red Raiders, with a 10-5 win over Texas A&M-Corpus Christi in his 22nd year as Texas Tech's head coach.Retirement
On June 2, 2008, Hays retired from the coaching after 38 years, 22 of which were spent at Texas Tech. His final record stands at 1,509 wins and 860 losses, fourth all-time in NCAA history. He will remain on the Tech staff in a developmental role. Hays's No. 27 jersey was retired on March 23, 2009. Ceremonies were held at Dan Law FieldDan Law Field
Dan Law Field at Rip Griffin Park, nicknamed "The Law", is the home stadium of the Texas Tech Red Raiders baseball team in Lubbock, Texas. It is located on the Texas Tech University campus, adjacent to Jones AT&T Stadium and Fuller Track...
prior to the Texas Tech Red Raiders game against the Lubbock Christian Chaparrals. Texas Tech won the game 4–3.
Comeback
On July 9, 2009, Hays took over the women's softball reins back at Lubbock Christian UniversityLubbock Christian University
Lubbock Christian University is a private Christian university associated with the Churches of Christ located in Lubbock, Texas, in the United States. It was established in 1957. A fall 2011 count showed 2,038 students enrolled at Lubbock Christian University, of which 422 are graduate students...
. The LCU softball job opened up when Hays's son, Shanon Hays, moved over to Texas Tech to coach softball.