Steve Hayes

Steven Leonard Hayes (born August 2, 1955) is an American former basketball player and coach. He played for several years for a variety of teams in the National Basketball Association (NBA), as well as in the Continental Basketball Association and in Europe. He is also known for his standout college career at Idaho State University, where he is recognized as one of the best players in the school's history.

College career Born in American Falls, Idaho, Hayes attended Aberdeen High School in Aberdeen. A center, he enrolled at Idaho State University in nearby Pocatello. As a freshman, Hayes averaged 9.8 points and 6.8 rebounds per game and was a valuable contributor to a Bengals team that went won a share of the Big Sky Conference title, and won a tiebreaker playoff game to earn a berth in the NCAA tournament. As a sophomore, he developed into one of the top players in the conference, averaging 20.4 points and 13.3 rebounds. Hayes led the Big Sky in scoring and rebounding and earned first team All-Conference honors.

In his junior season, Hayes again earned first team All-Conference accolades, averaging 19.7 points and 10.6 rebounds per game (leading the conference in both statistical categories). The Bengals again tied for the conference regular-season title but did not play in the postseason.

His final collegiate season in 1976–77 was a special one for Hayes and the Bengals. Hayes again averaged a double-double at 20.2 points and 11.1 rebounds per game. He was named first team All-Big Sky for the third consecutive year, becoming only the third player in league history to do so.

At the close of his career, Hayes finished second in school history in scoring (1,933 points) and first in rebounding (1,147) and blocked shots (207). He also holds the Big Sky Conference records for total rebounds in a career, career blocked shots per game (3.51) and blocked shots in a game (10 in 1976). but did not make the final roster. Instead, he signed with Fernet Tonic Bologna in Italy, where he played for two seasons, averaging 19.3 points and 8.6 rebounds per game.

For the 1979–80 season, Hayes returned to the United States to play for the Anchorage Northern Knights of the Continental Basketball Association, where he teamed up with future NBA players Brad Davis and Ron Davis to win the 1980 CBA championship. Hayes averaged 19.7 points, 11.8 rebounds and 3.0 blocks per game in the playoffs (up from his regular season averages of 11.6, 7.8 and 1.5 respectively) and was named CBA Playoff MVP.

Hayes returned to Italy for the next season and averaged 18.1 points and 10.7 rebounds for Tai Ginseng Gorizia. He also played parts of two seasons with the Rapid City Thrillers and Cedar Rapids Silver Bullets after his last NBA game. His career CBA averages were 14.7 points and 8.1 rebounds per game.

Coaching career and life after basketball Following the close of his playing career, Hayes became an assistant coach for the CBA's Cedar Rapids Silver Bullets in 1990, then was named head coach of the Rockford Lightning for the 1990–91 CBA season, leading the team to a 23–33 record. He then moved to the Tri-City Chinook to become the team's head coach and general manager. In two seasons with the Chinook, Hayes compiled a 42–46 record.

Hayes stepped away from professional basketball in 1994 to accept a fundraising role in the Idaho State athletic department. While there, he also served as the interim women's basketball coach for the 1995–96 season, going 8–18 in his one season.

Hayes left Idaho State for an IT consulting opportunity and has continued on in business roles. He is a board member for the National Basketball Retired Players Association, serving as secretary of that organization.

Career statistics

NBA Source

Regular season

Playoffs