[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 56 (Thursday, April 2, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E859]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    HONORING MTSU'S COACH DEAN HAYES

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. BART GORDON

                              of tennessee

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, April 2, 2009

  Mr. GORDON of Tennessee. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Dean 
Hayes, Head Coach of the Middle Tennessee State University Men's and 
Women's Track teams. On March 26, the Tennessee Board of Regents 
approved MTSU's request to name the University's state-of-the-art track 
and soccer stadium after Coach Dean Hayes--a timely accolade as the 
Blue Raiders are set to host the Sun Belt Conference Outdoor Track and 
Field Championships this year from May 8-10.
  Recently, Coach Hayes was inducted into the 2008 Class of the U.S. 
Track & Field Cross Country Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 
Phoenix, Arizona. This is Coach Hayes' fifth hall of fame induction--he 
has been inducted into the Blue Raider Hall of Fame (1982), Illinois 
Sports Hall of Fame (1993), Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame (1994), and 
the Mason-Dixon Athletic Club Hall of Fame (2005).
  Coach Hayes is in his 44th year at MTSU. He is credited with opening 
MTSU's track & field to minorities and welcoming the University's first 
international student-athletes. Coach Hayes has led Middle Tennessee to 
29 Ohio Valley Conference titles, 14 Sun Belt Conference Championships 
and 18 NCAA Top 25 finishes.
  He has won 15 OVC Coach of the Year and 12 SBC Coach of the Year 
awards, and he was named NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Coach of the Year 
in 1981. In 1977 and 1981, Coach Hayes was named NCAA District Coach of 
the Year. He also served as the President of NCAA Division I Track and 
Field Coaches from 1981-83.
  The athletes under his care have gone on to compete in the Olympic 
Games, World University Games and Pan-American Games; 44 of 84 have won 
All-American honors; and four have become national champions.
  Congratulations, Coach Hayes, on your latest success. I wish you many 
more. I'm glad Middle Tennessee was able to steal you away from your 
alma mater, Lake Forest College. Your leadership and dedication to MTSU 
is truly admirable.

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