- Has over 29 years of collegiate leadership experience, including 17 seasons as a head basketball coach.
- A Long Island native, Hayn was the 2014 Metropolitan Basketball Writers Division II Coach of the Year and served the previous three seasons as the Scarlet Knights’ Senior Advisor.
- Served as an assistant with Steve Pikiell at Central Connecticut State under Howie Dickenman and helped take the nation’s youngest team from just four wins in 1997-98 to a school-record 19 victories and a NEC Tournament finals appearance in 1998-99.
| Year(s) |
Position |
University |
| 2023-Present |
Assistant Coach / Chief of Staff |
Rutgers |
| 2021-23 |
Chief of Staff |
Rutgers |
| 2019-21 |
Assistant Coach |
Rutgers |
| 2016-19 |
Senior Advisor |
Rutgers |
| 2014-16 |
Head Coach |
U.S. Merchant Marine Academy |
| 2006-14 |
Head Coach |
Dowling College |
| 2001-06 |
Head Coach |
Stevens Institute of Technology |
| 1999-01 |
Head Coach |
SUNY-Fredonia |
| 1996-99 |
Assistant Coach |
Central Connecticut State |
| 1995-96 |
Assistant Coach |
Genesee CC |
| 1993-95 |
Head Coach |
Port Jefferson (N.Y.) High School |
Steve Hayn, who has over 29 years of collegiate leadership experience, including 17 seasons as a head basketball coach, was elevated again to an assistant coaching role heading into the 2023-24 season. After serving as Chief of Staff for two seasons, Coach Hayn is back on the court daily with the team working individually with the players and in practice. This is his second stint as an assistant coach and will maintain his position as Chief of Staff while working in the assistant coaching capacity again. In this role Coach Hayn will continue recruiting, coaching on the floor, scouting, and practice planning as part of his overall support of the program.
Hayn was named the team’s Chief of Staff heading into the 2021-22 season.
As Chief of Staff, Hayn has led the construction of the 2022-23 Scarlet Knights schedule along with Coach Pikiell, worked as a liaison to the academic advisor, and oversaw every aspect of the Scarlet Knights Men’s Basketball Program. During this time the Scarlet Knights enjoyed a 4
th place finish in the Big10 which is the highest finish in school history.
Coach Hayn was elevated to Assistant Coach on June 4, 2019. A Long Island native, Hayn was the 2014 Metropolitan Basketball Writers Division II Coach of the Year and previously served as the Scarlet Knights’ Senior Advisor for three seasons.
“After meeting with many qualified candidates during a broad search, the best person for the position occupied the office next to mine,” said head coach Steve Pikiell on the date of the appointment. “Steve Hayn has been a successful head coach at the collegiate and high school levels, while specializing in the development of big men. His skill set and relationships are a perfect fit for our program as we continue our work towards the post-season.”
Hayn joined a four-member coaching staff comprised of Pikiell, Karl Hobbs and Brandin Knight that entered the 2020-21 season with over 100 years of collegiate leadership experience. He is one four basketball staff members with collegiate head coaching experience, along with Pikiell, and Hobbs.
In addition to playing an instrumental role in recruiting, game planning and opponent scouting, Hayn is key in the development of the Scarlet Knights’ frontcourt players and offensive execution.
As an assistant coach, Hayn helped lead the Scarlet Knights to their second consecutive appearance in the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 1976 and the programs first NCAA tournament win in 38 years. During this time the Scarlet Knights were ranked as high as 11
th in the AP Poll during the 2020-2021 season and recorded the first 20-win season in 37 years during the 2019-2020 campaign.
Hayn’s first season as an assistant saw the Scarlet Knights tied for fifth in the Big Ten Conference, the nation’s top-rated league per Ken Pomeroy, posting an 11-9 mark in league games. RU earned its most conference victories in 29 years. RU earned its first opening road bye in a conference tournament in 25 years and were poised to secure its first NCAA Tournament berth since 1991.
As senior advisor, Hayn served as a consultant to Pikiell with regards to all phases of the program and was involved with alumni relations development, community outreach, and life skills development.
Prior to his arrival “On the Banks,” Hayn spent the 2014-15 and 2015-16 campaigns as head coach at the United States Merchant Marine Academy.
Hayn has achieved success throughout his career at multiple levels. He directed the Mariners to wins over three top 25-ranked foes in 2015-16 to increase the team win total from its prior campaign. At his four head-coaching stops, Hayn’s programs have collectively averaged 7.75 more wins in his final season at the helm as compared to his first. Perhaps his best season came in 2013-14, when he led Dowling College to a 22-7 mark to earn both East Coast Conference and Met honors.
Hayn and Pikiell served as assistants together at Central Connecticut State under head coach Howie Dickenman. They helped take the youngest team in the country from just four wins in 1997-98 to a school-record 19 victories and a Northeast Conference Tournament finals appearance in 1998-99. A two-time team captain at Stony Brook, Hayn began his coaching career at Port Jefferson (N.Y.) High School from 1993-95, before moving to the junior college ranks at Genesee Community College. In one season in Batavia (N.Y.) under Bill Van Gundy, he helped the team to a 26-6 record and the Region III semifinals. Hayn moved to the Division I-ranks at CCSU from 1996-99 and aided one of college basketball’s biggest turnarounds. In New Britain (Conn.) he also helped to recruit and coach 2002 NEC Player of the Year Corsley Edwards, who was a second round NBA Draft choice of the Sacramento Kings.
From 1999-01, Hayn was the head coach at the State University of New York at Fredonia (N.Y.). He directed the team to a 12-14 record in his first season, before producing an 18-11 mark in 2000-01. Hayn spent five seasons as head coach at Stevens Institute of Technology. After an 8-18 record in his initial season (2001-02), his tenure culminated with a 15-12 record and the school’s first trip to the Skyline Conference semifinals in 2006. He also set the table for the Ducks to earn their first ever NCAA Tournament berth and a Sweet 16 appearance with a 23-7 record the next season.
The turnaround at Dowling under Hayn’s leadership was significant and easily quantifiable, as the team produced 16 more wins in his final season in 2013-14 (22-7), as compared to his first in 2006-07 (6-22). In addition to the on-court success, the Golden Lions also consistently posted a team grade point average approaching a 3.0 during his tenure.
A 1991 graduate of Stony Brook with a bachelor’s degree in liberal studies, Hayn earned a master’s degree in Special Education from C.W. Post in 1993. Prior to his coaching success, Hayn was a special education teacher from 1991-95. He is the proud father of two children, son Zachary and daughter Sophie.
