They Call Him Coach
April 02, 2001 | Baseball
April 2, 2001
He has taken the road less traveled and that has made all the difference.
When Larry Hays came to Texas Tech University he was faced with a team that had a history of losing. He could have stayed as head coach of Lubbock Christian University where he had coached the Chaps to several district titles as well as a national title, but Hays sensed a challenge. The highly respected coach moved to the other side of Lubbock and started a tradition. What began as a challenge became a tradition of winning for Texas Tech baseball.
"I just thought it would be a challenge. I had been at LCU for 16 years and I was ready for a change. T. Jones (Tech's Athletic Director) told me his idea of what he thought a program could be here at Tech and I just bought into it." Hays said.
In 1985, Tech had a record of 2-19 in the Southwest Conference, only two years before Hays would take over and improve the record to 7-14. Hays' first year of coaching brought along a record of 21-28 in overall play and 7-14 in conference play. However, this would be the last time that Hays would lead a team into a losing season. Texas Tech baseball has accomplished an impressive feat by posting winning seasons every year since 1987.
As Hays enters his 15th season as head coach for the Red Raiders, he does not feel there have been significant changes for the game of baseball. He does feel that there has been a major change for his team since he began his coaching career at Tech 15 years ago. A once ignored team of the south plains has become a national powerhouse that is expected to reach many expectations.
"The biggest change for us is the expectations of us to win. Our fans expect us to win and our players expect us to win. Also in the Big 12 everyone is getting after it. In the Big 8 there were only a couple of competitive teams, in the SWC three to four, now in the Big 12 there are 12 teams being competitive. Everyone is putting forth an effort."
Tech continues to put forth the effort needed to be an elite squad in the Big 12. Since 1993, the Red Raiders have had winning seasons in conference play every year with the titles of SWC Champions in 1995 and Big 12 Champions in 1997. Hays also led the past six teams to an NCAA tournament berth.
Hays has achieved such accomplishments as 1997 Big 12 Conference Coach of the Year, 1997 USA Baseball Assistant Coach, and Five-time NAIA District Coach of the Year. Hays has coached 41 All Americans among them Matt Miller of the 1995 SWC Champion squad and Keith Ginter of the 1997 Big 12 Champion squad. When asked how he feels about being one of the most highly respected coaches in the Big 12, Hays modestly is immediately apparent.
"Here is the way it works. If you have good players then you are a good coach. I have been lucky that I have had good players. Everything that has happened here at Tech, the coaching hasn't had much to do with it. The guys who are out there playing, and boy we have had some great players over the years, are the ones who have built the program."
Hays does not take all the credit for his winning program but rather shares it with Tech's administration as well as Red Raider fans. When Hays came to Tech in 1987 the average attendance was 321. Last season, an average of 3,330 attended Dan Law Field to support the Red Raiders.
"Players want to go where baseball is important. And no where is it showed better than with your fans. You can have great administration but if there are no fans then you don't have much, the opposite is also true. We are in a unique situation here, where we have all the ingredients for great baseball. Our fans get to know our players and that is a great relationship to have. We are fortunate to be where we are and hope to give our fans something to be proud of."
Hays is known for being a mastermind on hitting and fielding but his coaching does not end on the field. Hays is dedicated to supporting the growth of his players as individuals and his caring trait is one quality that often draws top recruits to Tech. Sophomore infielder Shaud Williams believes Coach Hays is a coach who is truly there to take care of his team.
"He cares more about the players off the field than on. He is concerned with our education and how we are as people," Williams said.
Hays feels his responsibility is providing a situation where players can come and be successful. He believes that playing a good schedule and going to tournaments gives the players a chance to show what they can do.
Coach Hays' appreciation does not just stop at the players, fans and administration. Hays is thankful to have the opportunity to coach here at Tech.
"My greatest accomplishment is just being here and making it one year to the next. I am on the receiving end here. It has been such a blessing for me to be here at Tech. There are a lot of people who would like to be in this situation and I just feel privileged to be here."
Indeed many people do envy the position that Coach Hays holds but only because of the program that Hays himself has built. He came to Tech when the overall season record was 21-28 and so far in his 15th season Hays has posted 550 career victories at Tech. Hays created a path for the prestige and tradition that Texas Tech baseball carries today.