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Three-year UGA letterman Jonas Hayes joined the Georgia basketball staff as program coordinator in May of 2012. In his role, he directs a number of tasks, including the players' day-to-day schedules and their academic performance, as well as assisting with the program's on-campus recruiting efforts, summer camps and community outreach.
Hayes returned to Georgia after five seasons as an assistant basketball coach at Belmont Abbey College in Belmont, N.C. Previously, he had also served brief stints as an assistant coach at South Carolina State, Morehouse College and his alma mater, Douglass High School in Atlanta.
"I am really excited to have Jonas join our staff," Fox said. "He will be a valuable asset as we move forward. He is a smart and talented young man who will be a great example to our players. I am excited to have a former player who is so passionate about Georgia become part of our team."
Hayes earned three letters as a prominent player on three successful Georgia teams between 2002-04. He started 41 of 88 games for the Bulldogs, scoring 759 points (8.6 avg.) and pulling down 435 rebounds (4.9 avg.). His career scoring high of 25 points came at a most opportune time, when the 2004 Bulldogs upended 3rd-ranked Georgia Tech 83-80 in double overtime. Among his other career highlights included his first collegiate 3-pointer, a 30-foot bank shot at the buzzer that won a game for the Bulldogs at Colorado on Dec. 3, 2002.
Two of the three teams on which Hayes played reached post-season play, including the 2002 NCAA Tournament and 2004 NIT.
Native Atlantans, Hayes and his twin brother Jarvis transferred to UGA after playing their freshman seasons at Western Carolina University. Jarvis earned 1st-team All-SEC honors in each of his years at Georgia before he entered the NBA Draft in 2003. He played seasons in the NBA and continues to play professionally overseas.
