As winless Vanderbilt continues its search for its next head coach, a new candidate has emerged.
According to Dennis Dodd of CBS Sports, former St. Louis BattleHawks head coach Jonathan Hayes recently interviewed for the position. Hayes boasts vast football experience ranging from college to the pros.
Sources: Jonathan Hayes has interviewed at Vanderbilt. Long-time NFL assistant (Bengals). Four years under Bob Stoops at Oklahoma. Head coach of XFL St. Louis BattleHawks. 12-year NFL veteran with Chiefs and Steelers. Starred at Iowa.
— Dennis Dodd (@dennisdoddcbs) December 9, 2020
During his time with the BattleHawks, Hayes led the team to a 3-2 record in the five games before the pandemic canceled the rest of the season in March.
Hayes was a tight ends and special teams coach at Oklahoma from 1999 to 2002 but has been at the professional level since. He served as the Cincinnati Bengals’ tight ends coach from 2003 to 2018 before joining the XFL as the head coach and General Manger of the St. Louis BattleHawks.
It was just last week when it seemed that former Roughnecks head coach seemed to elude to a return to the league. He has since clarified his comments, but that has had fans talking about who they’d like to see return when the XFL hits the field again in 2022. Among those names, Jon Hayes was one of the top discussed. It makes sense… The BattleHawks were and continue to be one of the fan favorites among fans.
It’s great to see Jonathan Hayes get noticed and we look forward to reporting on whatever happens next.
