University of Minnesota Athletics
Soccer
Maya Hayes
- Title:
- Associate Head Coach
- Email:
- hayes858@umn.edu
Maya Hayes enters her sixth season on staff with the Gopher soccer program heading into 2026, having assumed her current duties in July 2020 while working primarily with the forwards. Hayes was promoted to associate head coach in 2024 after spending four seasons as an assistant.
Since 2020, Hayes has helped coach 13 Gophers to earn All-Big Ten honors. Notably, in 2024, she helped guide forward Khyah Harper to one of the most successful seasons a Gopher forward has had to date. Harper finished 2024 with 40 points and 17 goals, naming her a United Soccer Coaches Second Team All-American. Harper was selected as Big Ten Forward of the Year, and a semifinalist for the prestigious MAC Hermann Trophy, Minnesota’s first-ever semifinalist. Harper now competes for Gotham FC in the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL).
During Hayes’ first season in Dinkytown, Minnesota finished 5-4-3 overall and 5-3-3 in Big Ten play during the 2020-21 season. The Maroon and Gold wrapped up the year at the Big Ten Regional weekend under former head coach Stephanie Golan.
In her second season (2021), under current head coach Erin Chastain, Hayes helped guide Minnesota to an 8-6-3 record, including an unbeaten 4-0-3 mark in nonconference play to open the year. Offensively, Minnesota ranked second in the Big Ten in goals scored (19 in 10 matches) and had 10 different players record at least one goal.
In 2022, Hayes assisted Minnesota to an 8-8-3 record, earning the program’s first Big Ten Tournament berth since 2018. Minnesota did not concede more than two goals in any match and earned its first result against a top-10 opponent (No. 8 Rutgers) since 2015.
During 2023, Minnesota posted a 7-6-4 record while competing against three top-25 teams. The Gophers outshot their opponents 264-141 and outscored them 26-16.
Hayes helped lead the Golden Gophers to new heights in 2024, finishing with a 14-5-3 record and a final national ranking of No. 17. The Gophers posted an undefeated regular-season home record (7-0-2) for the first time since 2008 and earned three top-25 wins, including victories over No. 8 Ohio State (3-2), No. 11 Iowa (2-1), and No. 14 South Carolina (2-1). Minnesota also drew 2-2 against No. 24 Southern California, handing the Trojans their only non-win of the regular and conference seasons.
After finishing the regular season with a No. 22 RPI ranking, Minnesota hosted the first round of the NCAA Tournament, defeating South Dakota State 2-0. The team advanced to the Chapel Hill Regional, where they defeated South Carolina to reach the Sweet 16 before falling to eventual College Cup champion North Carolina.
In 2025, Minnesota welcomed nine freshmen and four transfers ahead of the season. The squad finished with a 6-8-3 overall record, including a 2-6-3 mark in conference play.
Hayes joined the Gophers after spending two seasons as a graduate assistant coach for the Auburn women’s soccer program. During her 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 at Auburn, Hayes played professionally in the NWSL as a member of Sky Blue FC from 2014-18. She was the sixth overall pick in the first round of the 2014 NWSL Draft after a historic career with the Penn State Nittany Lions.
From 2010-13, Hayes excelled as a four-year starter for Penn State, earning All-America honors in 2011, 2012 and 2013. She was named Big Ten Player of the Year in both 2011 and 2012. The 2011 season proved especially historic, as Hayes set Penn State’s single-season record with 70 points and scored 31 goals, the second-most in program history. Both marks led the nation that year.
Over 89 career games, she tallied 71 goals and 163 points, both ranking third all-time at Penn State. In January 2020, TopDrawerSoccer.com named Hayes to its Best XI of the 2010s.
Off the field, Hayes also excelled academically, earning Academic All–Big Ten honors three times from 2011-13.
Since 2020, Hayes has helped coach 13 Gophers to earn All-Big Ten honors. Notably, in 2024, she helped guide forward Khyah Harper to one of the most successful seasons a Gopher forward has had to date. Harper finished 2024 with 40 points and 17 goals, naming her a United Soccer Coaches Second Team All-American. Harper was selected as Big Ten Forward of the Year, and a semifinalist for the prestigious MAC Hermann Trophy, Minnesota’s first-ever semifinalist. Harper now competes for Gotham FC in the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL).
During Hayes’ first season in Dinkytown, Minnesota finished 5-4-3 overall and 5-3-3 in Big Ten play during the 2020-21 season. The Maroon and Gold wrapped up the year at the Big Ten Regional weekend under former head coach Stephanie Golan.
In her second season (2021), under current head coach Erin Chastain, Hayes helped guide Minnesota to an 8-6-3 record, including an unbeaten 4-0-3 mark in nonconference play to open the year. Offensively, Minnesota ranked second in the Big Ten in goals scored (19 in 10 matches) and had 10 different players record at least one goal.
In 2022, Hayes assisted Minnesota to an 8-8-3 record, earning the program’s first Big Ten Tournament berth since 2018. Minnesota did not concede more than two goals in any match and earned its first result against a top-10 opponent (No. 8 Rutgers) since 2015.
During 2023, Minnesota posted a 7-6-4 record while competing against three top-25 teams. The Gophers outshot their opponents 264-141 and outscored them 26-16.
Hayes helped lead the Golden Gophers to new heights in 2024, finishing with a 14-5-3 record and a final national ranking of No. 17. The Gophers posted an undefeated regular-season home record (7-0-2) for the first time since 2008 and earned three top-25 wins, including victories over No. 8 Ohio State (3-2), No. 11 Iowa (2-1), and No. 14 South Carolina (2-1). Minnesota also drew 2-2 against No. 24 Southern California, handing the Trojans their only non-win of the regular and conference seasons.
After finishing the regular season with a No. 22 RPI ranking, Minnesota hosted the first round of the NCAA Tournament, defeating South Dakota State 2-0. The team advanced to the Chapel Hill Regional, where they defeated South Carolina to reach the Sweet 16 before falling to eventual College Cup champion North Carolina.
In 2025, Minnesota welcomed nine freshmen and four transfers ahead of the season. The squad finished with a 6-8-3 overall record, including a 2-6-3 mark in conference play.
Hayes joined the Gophers after spending two seasons as a graduate assistant coach for the Auburn women’s soccer program. During her 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 at Auburn, Hayes played professionally in the NWSL as a member of Sky Blue FC from 2014-18. She was the sixth overall pick in the first round of the 2014 NWSL Draft after a historic career with the Penn State Nittany Lions.
From 2010-13, Hayes excelled as a four-year starter for Penn State, earning All-America honors in 2011, 2012 and 2013. She was named Big Ten Player of the Year in both 2011 and 2012. The 2011 season proved especially historic, as Hayes set Penn State’s single-season record with 70 points and scored 31 goals, the second-most in program history. Both marks led the nation that year.
Over 89 career games, she tallied 71 goals and 163 points, both ranking third all-time at Penn State. In January 2020, TopDrawerSoccer.com named Hayes to its Best XI of the 2010s.
Off the field, Hayes also excelled academically, earning Academic All–Big Ten honors three times from 2011-13.
2025 Season Highlights
Thursday, October 30
Play in Focus: Sarah Martin
Tuesday, October 21
Highlights: Gophers 0, Oregon 0
Sunday, October 19
Highlights: Gophers 2, Washington 3
Friday, October 17
