Danny Hayden has led Miami Baseball for the past nine seasons, and owns a total of 220 victories during his time at the helm.
Hayden’s 2022 campaign included 23 victories and was highlighted by strong starting pitching from Jonathan Brand and Zach Maxey. Brand was named an All-American by multiple outlets, posting the lowest ERA of any RedHawk in nearly 50 years at 1.40. He received first-team All-MAC honors, while Maxey was recognized as second-team All-MAC with an ERA of 2.27 (the second-best mark in the conference). Brand was drafted in the eighth round of the 2022 MLB draft by the Boston Red Sox. The RedHawks scored 10 or more runs 14 times on the season, punctuated by a 52-run series in a four-game sweep at Akron. Miami's offense was led by first-team All-MAC designated hitter David Novak (.370) and freshman slugger Zach MacDonald (10 home runs).
The 2021 RedHawks won 25 games, with pitcher Sam Bachman going on to become one of the highest draft picks in Miami athletic history that summer. Bachman went ninth overall to the Los Angeles Angels.
Miami posted its third consecutive winning record in the pandemic-shortened season of 2020, finishing that abbreviated spring with eight wins and seven losses.
In 2019, Hayden saw Miami go 37-19. That included tying a school record with a 14-game winning streak. The ‘Hawks had the best 20-game start (17-3) in school history and tied for the best 35-game (29-6) start. The RedHawks showed great improvement in both hitting and pitching under Hayden’s leadership. The team scored 376 runs and ranked 34th in the nation with a .293 batting average. On offense, Landon Stephens and Cole Andrews were named First-Team All-MAC, while Cal Elvers was named Second-Team All-MAC. Six different RedHawks hit over .300 for the 2019 season.
On the pitching front, Hayden saw Sam Bachman named MAC Freshman Pitcher of the Year after going 7-1 with a 3.93 ERA. He was named First-Team All-MAC, while Jack Corbell was named Second-Team All-MAC. The team as a whole ranked 50th in the nation with a 3.98 ERA and saw Spencer Mraz (33rd round) selected in the 2019 MLB player Draft.
During the 2018 season, the RedHawks posted an overall record of 35-20, their most wins at the time since the 2005 season. That included a 17-10 record in Mid-American Conference play, which tied for second in the league. They would reach the MAC Tournament Championship game.
Under Hayden’s guidance, the RedHawks excelled in all facets of the game that year. On offense, the RedHawks were led by three All-MAC first team players in Ross Haffey, Hayden Senger, and Will Vogelgesang. The trio all hit for a batting average of .315 or higher, while Haffey also tied for the conference lead with 15 home runs.
They were joined on the All-MAC first team by pitcher Gus Graham. Graham finished in the top ten of the conference in ERA, batting average against, and innings pitched. Relief pitcher Andy Almquist was named to the All-MAC second team after a 0.90 ERA in conference play. As a pitching staff, the RedHawks finished with the second-lowest ERA in the conference.
Defensively, the RedHawks finished first in the conference with a .977 fielding percentage. Carlos Texidor, Senger, and Vogelgesang were named to the All-MAC defensive team, with Texidor being named the conference’s Defensive Player of the Year.
Three of Hayden’s athletes from 2018 moved on to the professional ranks that year. Pitchers Zach Spears (8th round) and Nick Ernst 15th round), and catcher Senger (24th round) were all selected in the 2018 MLB First-Year Player Draft. The last time the RedHawks had three players selected in a single year was 2007. In total, seven RedHawks have been drafted since Hayden took over as head coach.
Hayden is only the sixth Miami baseball coach with over 100 total career victories. His RedHawks captured the MAC East division title in 2014, Hayden's first season as head coach.
Prior to being named the 16th head coach of Miami baseball in 2013, Hayden spent five years in various coaching roles, including with the RedHawks from 2008-2010. Before starting in coaching, Hayden also spent his freshman year playing for the RedHawks team.
Hayden was an assistant coach with Xavier University from 2010-2013. During Hayden's Xavier tenure, three players advanced to the professional level, while six Musketeers earned all-conference honors and five earned academic all-conference accolades. He also helped the Musketeers post three of the top five win totals in program history. In both 2011 and 2013, his offense cracked the program's top 10 list for hits and doubles, while also notching a top 10 mark in runs scored in 2011.
Hayden spent two years on the Miami staff, serving as the director of baseball operations for the 2009 season and as a volunteer assistant coach the following year.
From 2008 to 2010, Hayden was an assistant coach with the Midland Redskins, helping guide the nationally-prominent summer league program to two national championships and one runner-up finish. During his three-year stretch on the Midland staff, Hayden coached 27 players who were selected in the Major League Baseball draft, including four first-round picks.
As an undergraduate, Hayden was a catcher on the 2004 RedHawk team that produced 36 wins, including a 14-8 Mid-American Conference record, and captured the MAC East Division title.
Hayden played his final three seasons at Xavier where he served as captain of the 2008 team that seized the Atlantic 10 regular-season championship. He was selected by the Chicago White Sox in the 47th round of the 2008 MLB draft.
Hayden, a Cincinnati native who graduated from McNicholas High School, earned his bachelor's degree from Xavier in 2008.
