Naval Academy Athletics

Lauren Hayden joined the staff as the Mids' Assistant Coach/Director of Operations and Recruiting in August of 2021. Hayden came to Navy with five years of collegiate basketball coaching experience with recent stops at the University of Lynchburg and George Fox University.
 
"I am definitely excited to bring Lauren back to the DMV," remarked head coach Tim Taylor. "It was evident throughout the interview process, she is passionate about impacting student-athlete's lives not just on the court, but off the court which was an important trait in our search. Lauren came highly recommended from people within the basketball community that I trust. Her experience managing aspects of highly successful programs at Lynchburg and George Fox has prepared her for this opportunity.
 
"In our conversations, it was evident Lauren values connections with people and especially student-athletes. I was also impressed with her basketball thought process and knowledge of the game. In addition, Lauren was an outstanding scholar-athlete and understands how to help our players navigate the rigors of the classroom and collegiate basketball. In her previous roles, Lauren recruited nationally which will also help us bring the best of the best to the Naval Academy. We are all excited to add her to our family."
 
"I am extremely grateful to Coach Taylor for the opportunity to be a part of the Navy women's basketball program," said Hayden. "The Naval Academy is an incredible place and I am humbled to walk alongside our student-athletes as they develop into our nation's next greatest leaders. Coach Taylor and his staff have welcomed me with open arms and I am honored to work with them and our athletes as we strive for success both on and off the court."
 
Located on the East Coast for her collegiate playing career at the University of New England and at her first coaching stop, the University of Lynchburg, Hayden made the move two years ago across the country to serve as an assistant coach at George Fox University. While coaching in Newberg, Ore., Hayden and the Bruins compiled a two-year mark of 28-8, including a 23-6 record in 2019-20. In her initial season, Hayden helped George Fox earn a pair of NCAA DIII Tournament wins and an appearance in the Sweet Sixteen before the COVID-19 pandemic cancelled the remainder of that event.
 
Prior to coaching at George Fox, Hayden spent three years on staff at the University of Lynchburg, two as a graduate assistant and her third as an assistant coach. During her time at Lynchburg, the Hornets went 56-26 with an appearance in the 2017 NCAA Tournament. During that season, Lynchburg posted a 23-7 record and reached the ODAC Championship Final before knocking off Catholic University in the First Round of the NCAA Tournament. That victory was the first tournament victory in the Hornets' program history. In recognition of this success, Hayden and head coach Abby Pyzik Smith and assistant coach Ann Dorris were selected as the 2016-17 ODAC Coaching Staff of the Year.
 
In 2018, Hayden was named to the Women's Basketball Coaches' Association (WBCA) 30-Under-30 as one of the most promising young coaches in the field. She was one of just five Division III coaches to earn this recognition in 2018.
 
As a student-athlete, Hayden thrived at the University of New England (UNE) and was a three-time Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) Defensive Player of the Year from 2013-14 through 2015-2016. She holds program records for most career steals (404), most single-season steals (128), and most steals in a game (10). Hayden served as team captain her junior and senior seasons and was nominated as UNE's NCAA Woman of the Year in 2016. As a team, UNE won the CCC Tournament all four years Hayden was a member of the team and made four straight appearances in the NCAA DIII Tournament where the Nor'Easters collected three combined victories.
 
Talented in the classroom, as well, Hayden garnered 2015-16 CCC Senior Scholar-Athlete of the Year and 2015-16 CoSIDA Academic All-District honors. As a program, UNE was ranked ninth in the nation for overall team GPA for NCAA DIII Women's Basketball in 2014-15.
 
Originally from Chantilly, Va., Hayden has a B.A. in Psychology from the University of New England. Additionally, she earned a Master's in Educational Leadership from the University of Lynchburg in 2018 and a Master's in Sports and Exercise Psychology from Lock Haven University in 2020.
 
Outside of coaching, Hayden has been involved in multiple charitable causes with outreach trips to Uganda and Rwanda in 2019, organizing events for the Special Olympics in both Maine and Virginia and volunteering as a physical education teacher in South Africa in 2015.