Jane Hays was promoted to associate head coach prior to the start of her fourth year at Louisiana Tech in 2022. She served the previous three years as assistant coach and recruiting coordinator.

Hays' coaching responsibilities for the Lady Techsters includes leading technical training for all serve receiving/passing, defensive concepts and team strategy. She is also the primary recruiter that is responsible for coordinating visits, corresponding with prospective student-athletes and being a primary identifier and evaluator of prospects.

LA Tech saw significant improvements from 2020 to 2021 in all three statistical categories that Hays oversees -- increased digs per set (14.2 to 16.3), increased aces per set (0.7 to 1.3) and decreased team reception errors per set (1.7 to 1.3). Last season, LA Tech finished second in Conference USA in digs per set behind only East division champion Rice thanks in large part to Second Team All-Conference USA selection McKenzie Johnson.

The then-freshman libero, who was recruited and coached by Hays, led all of C-USA in digs per set and broke both the LA Tech single-game record for total digs and the single-season record for digs per set.

after helping the Lady Techsters record their best season since 2003 in 2019. She was officially named the recruiting coordinator for the Techsters in 2020 after leading the staff's effort to reel in a highly-touted class of recruits in 2019. 

During the split 2020-21 season, Hays guided Tech's defense to averaging 2.2 more digs per set compared to the 2019 season. A total of five Lady Techsters averaged more than two digs per set. Hays helped coach Meghan Dunnigan (2.69) and Samantha Hicks (2.42) to more than two digs per set in their first seasons.

In 2019, LA Tech posted a 13-15 record (opened the season winning 11 of its first 15 matches). The Lady Techsters earned two championships -- Sam Houston State Invitational and the LA Tech Invitational -- during non-conference play. Under Hays' tutelage, the Lady Techsters hit the century mark in digs on two occasions for the first time in five years. Tech also reduced their reception errors by 24 in 2019. 

Statistically, Tech improved in several categories in 2019. The Lady Techsters posted more kills, assists, aces, and blocks per set than in 2018 while returning many of the same student-athletes. The 2019 team also committed 97 fewer errors than the prior year. 
 
Hays came to Ruston after spending the previous six seasons as Amber McCray's assistant at Panola College. While at Panola, she worked primarily with the team's outside hitters and defense, while helping guide the program to two National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) national tournament appearances.
 
Prior to her time at Panola, Hays spent two successful seasons as an assistant at her alma mater of East Texas Baptist University where she aided former Panola volleyball standout and current UT Tyler Head Coach Lyndsay Simpson Mashe in bringing in the program's top recruiting class in 2012 and again in 2013 by adding players from some of the premiere club programs in Texas. 
 
Hays was also an accomplished student-athlete at ETBU from 2006-2009, and a four-time All-American Southwest Conference East Division selection. The Tigers won or shared two ASC East Division titles during her career and advanced to the postseason every year during that span with Hays serving as a valuable team leader both on and off the court.
 
Hays' awards were not limited to just her athletic ability; she was a three-time All-ASC Academic selection, Distinguished Scholar Athlete selection, and a nominee for the prestigious 2010 NCAA Woman of the Year award.

Serving as a three-year captain, Hays is the only player in ETBU volleyball history to rank in the top 10 all-time in kills, digs and aces. She ranks fourth all-time in career kills and digs with 1,432 kills and 1,227 digs, and third all-time in aces with 141.
 
Hays was also a member of the ETBU softball team from 2006-2008.

The Hereford, Texas native was a three-sport star in high school, competing in volleyball, basketball and softball. An all-state selection in both volleyball and softball, Hays ranks among the top all-time athletes to come from Hereford High School.
 
Hays has coached several club teams including Young Guns Volleyball Club which was nationally ranked during her time with the team, and now most recently for East Texas Juniors for the past seven years.

Hays graduated Cum Laude from ETBU in 2010 with a B.S.E. in Secondary Education with an emphasis in history.