Chris Hays was elevated to the position of Director of Sports Performance in the Spring of 2021 after serving as the Director of Basketball Performance since November 2018.  With this transition, the Department rebranded from Strength & Condition to represent a more comprehensive and holistic approach to athletic development.

While focusing on the pillars of performance training and injury reduction, Hays intends to expand upon the areas of performance nutrition, recovery/regeneration, return to play and mindset/culture development for all of Coppin's student-athletes.

Prior to joining Coppin State, Hays served as a Performance Coach for the 2018 NLDS Champion Los Angeles Dodgers in their minor league system based on Glendale, Ariz. In addition to assisting with spring training and rehab assignments, Hays worked directly with the 2018 Arizona Rookie League Championship Team while being voted MiLB Coach of the Year in the league.
 
Hays also served as a Performance Fellow at the University of Louisville, studying under Teena Murray, now VP of Health & Performance for the NBA’s Sacramento Kings. At Louisville, he assisted with various teams, while working closely with Women’s Basketball, including future lottery pick, Asia Durr, and WNBA champion, Myisha Hines-Allen. 

Earning his Master of Exercise Science from the George Washington University in May 2017, Hays worked as a graduate assistant under the mentorship of Matt Johnson, now Head S&C for Butler Men’s Basketball, and Brandi Walker, most recently Head S&C for Miami Women’s Basketball. While at GW, Hays worked closely with the likes of NBA-signees Tyler Cavanaugh and Yuta Watanabe, and international-standouts Patricio Garino and Kevin Larsen, as well WNBA MVP candidate, Jonquel Jones.
 
“C-Hays” began his collegiate basketball journey with a three-year playing career at Slippery Rock University as a manager-turned-walk-on. He earned his way onto the winningest team in school history (23-9), while being part of two D-II NCAA tournament births, and being named a 2x captain, during his career.
 
Hays is from Lansdale, PA, a suburb of Philadelphia.