Following an outstanding playing career at Southwest Minnesota State University, Autumn Hayes was named as an assistant coach in May 2015 and will begin her second year with the Tiger program this fall.
"We're very excited to have Autumn on board for this season," said head coach Greg Paynter, who begins his ninth season at the helm of the program. "She comes heavily recommended as someone who works extra hard, is intelligent, young and eager. She was a three-year captain in college and brings a high level of leadership, character development and innate skills to help our student-athletes grow."
During the 2014 season, Hayes competed on the women's side for the Des Moines Menace of the Women's Premier Soccer League, helping the team to a 7-3-0 mark and 21 points in the standings.
Despite just graduating in December 2014 with Bachelor of Science degree in exercise science and a minor in coaching, Hayes has prior coaching experience. In 2014, she worked with the Des Moines Menace Academy and Junior Academy, while coaching previously with the Marshall (Minn.) United Soccer Association in 2013.
A midfielder out of La Crescent, Minn., Hayes played in 71 career games for the Division II Mustangs, including 22 starts as a junior in 2013. Hayes, a three-time captain for SMSU, finished her career with 35 points on 14 goals and seven assists, ripping off 125 shots. Half of her career goals were game-winners, and she converted penalty kicks at a perfect eight-for-eight rate, setting a school record.
Following outstanding junior and senior seasons, Hayes was named NSCAA/Continental Tire All-Central Region second team. During her time in Marshall, Minn., Hayes enjoyed All-Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference honors twice, including first team plaudits in 2014 and second team in 2013. During her career as a student-athlete, Hayes was named NSIC All-Academic in each of her four years.
After a senior season with four goals and three assists, Hayes was selected to the Capital One All-District VII first team and the Daktronics All-Central Region second team. In her junior season, Hayes helped lead the Mustangs to an overall record of 16-4-2 and an at large berth in the NCAA Central Region Tournament, winning the first two games. That season as SMSU reached the Sweet Six, the Mustangs knocked off No. 14 Central Missouri, the program's first-ever victory over a ranked opponent.
Off the field, Hayes was a member of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee at SMSU from 2010-14. She was also selected as an NCAA Career in Sports Forum participant.
Prior to her time at SMSU, Hayes was a four-year letterwinner at La Crescent High School, earning all-conference honors as a freshman and sophomore. The two-time captain earned first team all-conference plaudits in her junior and senior campaigns and was a first team all-state selection in those years as well. A multi-sport athlete, Hayes earned letters in softball, track and ice hockey, serving as a captain for the hockey team.
The native Minnesotan now resides in Towson.
