Minnesota soccer assistant coach Maya Hayes was named to the United Soccer Coaches 2021-22 Class of the 30 Under 30 Program, the organization announced Thursday. The class features 30 individuals selected from a pool of almost 300 applicants.
Hayes, who is in her second season with the Gopher soccer program, receives an educational scholarship which provides registrations for the United Soccer Coaches Convention and an Advanced Diploma course of the coach’s choosing. In addition, members of the 30 Under 30 Program are matched with a mentor dedicated to fostering their growth in the game and expanding their coaching network.
At Minnesota Hayes primarily works with attacking players and has turned the program’s offense into a lethal one in 2021. This season the Gophers, as of Oct. 16, are the Big Ten’s No. 1 scoring offense in conference play with 18 goals in seven matches.
A graduate of Penn State, Hayes came to the U after a historic career with the Nittany Lions. Hayes tallied 71 goals and 163 points in 89 career games and was a three-time All-American. She spent two seasons as a graduate assistant coach for the Auburn women’s soccer program. During her Auburn tenure, the Tigers posted a combined 19-16-4 record, including an NCAA Tournament appearance in 2018 that highlighted a 12-win campaign.
Prior to her time with Auburn, Hayes played professionally in the National Women’s Soccer League as a member of Sky Blue FC from 2014-18. Hayes was the sixth overall pick of the first round in the 2014 NWSL Draft after her career at Penn State that also earned her a spot on the TopDrawerSoccer.com Best XI of the 2010s.
MNN sports director Mike Grimm spoke with Hayes:
