University of Houston Athletics
Veteran Hays Joins Sumlin's Staff
2/15/2010 12:00:00 AM | Football
Feb. 15, 2010
HOUSTON, Texas - University of Houston head coach Kevin Sumlin on Monday announced that Lee Hays has been hired as graduate assistant coach on the offensive side of the ball. The addition of Hays completes Sumlin's 2010 staff.
A long-time veteran of the collegiate coaching ranks, Hays arrives in Houston after spending last season as the offensive line coach at Sam Houston State.
Prior to his stint with the Bearkats, Hays spent two seasons as the offensive coordinator at Baylor from 2006-07. The 2006 Bears' offense averaged 23.6 points per game, the team's best mark since 1996. The spread attack also allowed Baylor to break nearly every school game and season passing record, as the 2006 Bears ranked third in the Big 12 and 11th nationally in passing yards per game (275.0 ypg).
For three seasons (2003-05) Hays was the architect of West Texas A&M's high-octane spread offenses. West Texas A&M enjoyed its most successful season in 55 years in 2005, largely due to the success of Hays' offense. The Buffaloes went 10-2 to record their first winning season since 1998 (the program had won a combined seven games in the previous four years) and post the school's first 10-win campaign since 1950. Along the way, WTAMU won the Lone Star Conference title with an 8-1 record, its first league championship since 1986, and advanced to the NCAA Division II Playoffs for the first time in school history where it lost in the quarterfinals.
The 2005 Buffalo offense led the NCAA Division II ranks in passing offense at 363.8 yards per game, while ranking No. 7 in scoring offense (40.3 ppg) and No. 9 in total offense (477.3 ypg). WTAMU also led Division II in pass completions (361) and was second in attempts (540), marking the third straight season it placed among the nation's top three in both categories. Hays' 2005 offense set school records for completion percentage (.669) and total offense yards per attempt (6.9 ypa).
At West Texas A&M, Hays also coached offensive lineman Pat McCoy, a first-team American Football Coaches Association All-American and finalist for the 2005 Gene Upshaw Award given annually to Division II's top lineman (offensive or defensive), and quarterback Dalton Bell, a Harlon Hill finalist who ranked third nationally among Division II leaders in total offense (349.2 ypg) and 13th in pass efficiency (154.9 rating). Bell set school and conference single-season records for both total offense (3,843 yards) and passing yards (3,799) while throwing a school-record 31 touchdown passes which was one off the Lone Star Conference record.
After ending his playing career at Texas A&M-Kingsville, he joined former Baylor offensive coordinator Ron Harms' Javelinas' staff as tight ends and tackles coach in 1997. Hays went to WTAMU as offensive line coach in 1999, then returned to Kingsville as defensive line coach and recruiting coordinator in 2000 before moving back to the offensive side of the ball as the program's o-line coach from 2001-03. He rejoined the West Texas A&M staff in 2003 as offensive coordinator and line coach.
During his 13-year coaching career, Hays has coached five All-Americans, 25 first-team all-conference players, three conference offensive Linemen of the Year award winners, one Dave Rimington Award winner and two NFL Draft picks. His coaching tenure has also helped produce five conference championship teams and six NCAA Division II playoff entrants.
Before launching his coaching career, Hays served in the United States Marine Corps from 1987 through 1996 where he rose to the rank of staff sergeant and completed Marine Corps Sniper School. He served America as both a staff noncommissioned officer and as a recon marine during his military career.
Hays played defensive end/linebacker at Cisco (Texas) Junior College for two years, then spent one year at Abilene Christian. He received his bachelor of science degree from Texas A&M-Kingsville in 1996 and his master's degree from WTAMU in 2004.
A native of Del Rio, Texas, Hays and his wife, Roxann, a fourth-generation Baylor graduate, have a daughter, Shanlee, and a son, Cade
