Hays Inducted Into National College Baseball Hall of Fame
June 30, 2015 | Baseball
Legendary Texas Tech head coach Larry Hays was inducted Monday night into the National College Baseball Hall of Fame. Hays, who led the Red Raiders from 1987-2008, is the first individual representing Texas Tech to ever be inducted.
June 30, 2015
LUBBOCK, Texas -- Former Texas Tech head coach Larry Hays joined an elite class on Monday as he was inducted into the National College Baseball Hall of Fame during the fifth-annual Night of Champions ceremony held at the Overton Hotel and Conference Center.
Larry Hays became the first individual representing Texas Tech to be inducted into the College Baseball Hall of Fame on Monday night.
While the recognition was intended to revolve around his own career, Hays instead thanked others for his success, namely his players and former assistant coaches as well as school administrators at both Lubbock Christian and Texas Tech
"To get to coach at Texas Tech and Lubbock Christian, who wouldn't be blessed to get to do that?" Hays said. "I'm so thankful for that and I want to thank those two universities for that opportunity. I want to thank my wife Nell for putting up with that all these years."
Hays completed his career in 2008 with over 1,500 wins, making him one of only eight coaches in the history of college baseball to accomplish that feat at any level. Only five coaches in history had done so when he retired.
Hays led the Red Raiders from 1987-2008 where he collected 813 wins, four conference championships, nine NCAA Tournament appearances and 11 40-win seasons. He received nine coach of the year awards during his career, including the 1997 Big 12 Coach of the Year honor.
Hays led the Red Raiders to a 51-14 record in 1995, marking a school record for wins in a single season. He also guided Tech to four-consecutive seasons with at least 18 wins in Big 12 play (1998-2001) which has been accomplished only two other times in conference history.
Hays coached 22 players who eventually made it to the big leagues, including former Red Raider great Roger Kieschnick.
The Red Raiders had 96 Major League Baseball Draft selections during Hays' tenure, including 22 players who eventually made their MLB debuts. Hays also coached 36 All-Southwest Conference selections, 18 All-Big 12 first team picks, 14 consensus All-Americans and six USA Baseball National Collegiate Team members.
Hays is the second-longest tenured head coach (22 years) in Texas Tech history, trailing only Marsha Sharp who spent 24 seasons leading the Lady Raider basketball program. Hays had his No. 27 jersey retired at Tech on March 23, 2009.
Hays spent the first 16 years of his career at crosstown Lubbock Christian University where he tallied an impressive 695-381 record from 1971-86 while guiding the Chaparrals to the 1983 NAIA National Championship.
He was inducted into the NAIA Hall of Fame in 1991 and later became the first collegiate baseball coach to be inducted into the Texas Baseball Hall of Fame in 2001.
Hays was joined in the 2015 College Baseball Hall of Fame class by Joe Arnold (Miami-Dade/Arizona State, 1965-67 -- Pitcher), Lance Berkman (Rice, 1995-97, First Baseman/Outfielder), Al Holland (North Carolina A&T, 1972-75 -- Pitcher), Bill Holowaty (Eastern Connecticut State, 1969-2013 -- Coach), Mike Kelly (Arizona State, 1989-91 -- Outfielder), Rick Reichardt (Wisconsin, 1963-64 -- Outfielder), and Frank Viola (St. John's, 1979-81 -- Pitcher).
Honoring a great in former @TechAthletics @LCUCHAPS Head Coach Larry Hays @CollegeDiamonds. Congrats Coach! #WreckEm pic.twitter.com/cHPvjmQkpV
-- Amy McBride Heard (@AmyMHeard) June 30, 2015