Hayes Takes Over the Miners' Top Job

Miners legend Eric Hayes has been appointed Head Coach of the GMHBA Ballarat Miners for the next two years.

Hayes takes over from current coach David Flint who remains with the program as Assistant Coach.

Before putting himself forward firstly as an assistant coach and now as Head Coach, Hayes carved out an impressive SEABL playing history.

He is the all-time leader for SEABL games played, and holds the same record at the Miners, where he is a leader for points, assists and steals.

Hayes sits in the SEABL top 10 for points, assists, rebounds and steals, and was inducted into the 2000s Team of the Decade.

He has also coached at junior Ballarat Representative Level, Youth League level and as senior women’s coach.

Hayes is a School Counsellor at St Patrick’s College where the focus of his work is on student well-being and working with individuals or small groups of students to deal with issues they may be having in or out of school.

He is also Head Coach for the basketball program at St Pat’s which includes coaching various junior teams, the first V senior team and development with the up and coming players at the school.

Two years ago Hayes signalled his intentions when he told the media that  “there is no doubt I have a desire to coach the Miners at some stage, however right now the timing is not right for me or my family,” Hayes said.

“I jumped at the chance to be an assistant to David back in 2013 as I have so much respect for what he has achieved and thought what better way for me to further my coaching career with this great club.”

In January 2013 after the sudden loss of Miners Coach Guy Molloy a plan was put in place to cope with the loss and to build on the great work done by Molloy to start rebuilding the Miners program after a few years in the wilderness.

After discussions with both Flint and Hayes at the time it was agreed that David would coach for two years when the Club would review the structure and decide on the best model from there.

Over the past few weeks the Men’s Elite Teams selection panel and the coaches themselves have reviewed the past two seasons and set out the path for the next two years.

Elite Teams Chairman Nick Grylewicz in making the announcement added, “I’m delighted to announce that one of the Miners’ favourite sons Eric Hayes has been appointed the Coach of the GMHBA Ballarat Miners for the 2015 and 2016 seasons.”

“Eric brings a unique set of skills to Ballarat Basketball in what he has done inside and outside of basketball and his ability to lead the program is unquestioned. He really loves this club and this, combined with his passionate belief in giving our juniors a career pathway will add to the work done by David Flint over the past two seasons.

“I think he has the ingredients to be a great coach and I’m excited by the fact that as a Miners person he has the hallmarks for being a very successful coach.

“Eric’s hard, no nonsense approach as a player and his broad basketball knowledge make him an ideal choice to lead the program. He is as tough as any person I have experienced in a basketball sense”.

Ballarat Basketball CEO Peter Eddy paid tribute to former coach David Flint who has steered the vision and coaching succession plan to the result we have today.

“David has always wanted Eric to have the opportunity to lead the team and it is a credit to his character that he has delivered on his commitment two years ago to see Eric move into the role and for him to stay with the program as assistant coach.”

“David is a class person and his selfless desire for a smooth transition and to see the program be successful is testament to his qualities.”