Hays Myers completed his third season as Sacramento State’s assistant coach in 2024-25. Myers was named to the position on April 28, 2022, becoming the first coach hired by then first-year head coach David Patrick.
Myers was part of a Hornet staff that began laying the foundation in 2022-23. Sacramento State won 14 games, easily the most by a first-year coaching staff in Sacramento State’s Div. I era (1991-pres.), and the third best mark in program history (1948-pres.). In addition, the team was a top six seed at the Big Sky Conference Tournament for just the second time in 16 years. In fact, the Hornets received a first round bye at the tournament for the first time since joining the conference in 1996.
In 2023-24, the Hornets’ semifinal appearance at the Big Sky Tournament marked the first time the team had won two games at the postseason event since joining the league in 1996. Sacramento State fell in the semifinals in a tightly contested 74-71 loss to eventual tournament champion Montana State. In addition, the Hornets were one of four Div. I teams in the country to play their freshmen over 40% of the team’s total minutes.
The 2024-25 season saw the Hornets deal with a plethora of injuries, forcing the staff to use a rotation that included three freshmen and three sophomores throughout the Big Sky Conference portion of the season. Still, of the team’s 18 conference games, 10 were decided by six points or less. In addition, the team won three straight from Dec. 22-Jan. 4, and saw senior forward Jacob Holt named second team all-Big Sky Conference.
The Hornets led the Big Sky in rebounding margin during Myers’ first two seasons with the program, and finished among the top 25 teams in the nation both years. That includes ranking 22nd with a +6.4 margin in 2023-24, and 18th in the nation with a +6.0 in 2022-23. In addition, the Hornets finished among the top four teams in the league in scoring defense all three of his years.
Myers and Patrick worked together for a total of five seasons at Arkansas (2020-21) and LSU (2012-16). Myers, a native of Dallas, Texas, has 13 years of experience in the coaching profession. That includes six seasons with head coach Eric Musselman at both Arkansas and Nevada.
Myers has been part of coaching staffs that have qualified for eight postseason events, including six NCAA Tournament appearances and a pair of NIT showings. That includes Elite Eight appearances with Arkansas each of the last two seasons, and a Sweet 16 appearance with Nevada in 2018.
Myers spent three seasons at Arkansas (2019-22), where he was the director of scouting and analytics in 2021-22, and special assistant to Musselman from 2019-21. His duties with the Razorbacks included gathering and disseminating analytics, film exchange with opponents, preparation of film for opponent scouting for both coaches and players, and one year as the academic liaison. He also assisted in the signing of 10 Top 100 prospects, including a top 10 recruiting class in 2020, and the No. 2 ranked class in the nation in 2022.
Arkansas went 73-28 overall and 33-20 in the SEC during his three years, which included 28 wins and the program’s second straight NCAA Tournament Elite Eight appearance in 2021-22.
In his three years at Nevada (2016-19), the Wolf Pack won at least 28 games each season, won three Mountain West regular season titles, one conference tournament championship and made three NCAA Tournament appearances, including a Sweet 16 run in 2018. Myers was the director of player development his final two seasons with the Wolf Pack after spending one year as a graduate assistant.
Myers joined the Wolf Pack staff after five years as a student manager for LSU (2011-16). It was there, in 2012, Myers first crossed paths with Patrick, who was an assistant coach with the Tigers at the time. Myers and Patrick spent four years working together at LSU, which included an NCAA Tournament and NIT appearance.
Myers graduated in 2016 from LSU with a degree in mass communication and two minors in sports studies and leadership development. He married the former Haleigh Wells in 2019.
PLAYERS MYERS HELPED DEVELOP
• Isaiah Joe, Philadelphia 76ers, 2020 NBA 2nd Round (49th Overall)
• Mason Jones, Los Angeles Lakers, 2020 SEC co-Player of the Year
• Caleb Martin, Miami Heat, 2018 Mountain West Player of the Year
• Cody Martin, Charlotte Hornets, 2019 NBA 2nd Round (36th Overall)
• Jarrell Martin, played for 3 NBA teams, 2015 NBA 1st Round (25th Overall)
• Jordan Mickey, played for 2 NBA teams, 2015 NBA 2nd Round (33rd Overall)
• Moses Moody, Golden State Warriors, 2021 NBA 1st Round (14th Overall)
• JD Notae, 2022 3rd team All-American; District VII Player of the Year
• Johnny O’Bryant, played for 3 NBA teams, 2014 NBA 2nd Round (36th Overall)
• Ben Simmons, Brooklyn Nets, 2016 NBA 1st Round (1st Overall)
• Jaylin Williams, 2022 1st team all-SEC; West Regional all-tournament
