Heather Hayes is set to enter her 14th season as head coach of the IU Kokomo volleyball program, having been hired prior to the 2013 season. She has transformed the Cougars into one of the premier programs in the NAIA, guiding IU Kokomo to sustained conference dominance, multiple national tournament runs, and consistent top-25 national rankings throughout her tenure.
Under Hayes’ leadership, IU Kokomo has become a perennial national contender, producing seven consecutive NAIA National Tournament appearances, multiple “Sweet 16” finishes, and a consistent presence among the nation’s top-ranked programs. Entering the 2026 season, Heather Hayes owns a 390-102 overall record at Indiana University Kokomo, including a dominant 182-16 mark in River States Conference play.
The Cougars have captured eight River States Conference regular season titles during Hayes’ tenure (2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2023, 2024, 2025) along with six River States Conference Tournament championships (2018, 2019, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2025), establishing IU Kokomo as the league’s dominant program over the past decade.
IU Kokomo’s sustained excellence has also included historic consistency in conference play, highlighted by a current 54-match River States Conference winning streak entering the 2026 season, during which the Cougars have dropped just 12 sets in total, underscoring their dominance within league competition.
The Cougars have also delivered some of the longest winning streaks conference history under Hayes, including a 29-match overall win streak in 2023, a 27-match win streak in 2025, a 25-match win streak in 2018, and additional 24-match win streaks in both 2017 and 2024, reflecting sustained national-level consistency across multiple championship seasons.
The 2025 season continued that standard of excellence as IU Kokomo posted a 32-6 overall record, went a perfect 16-0 in River States Conference play, captured another regular season title, and finished the year ranked No. 12 nationally. The Cougars once again advanced through postseason play and continued their run among the NAIA’s elite programs.
In 2024, IU Kokomo finished 33-6 overall and 16-0 in conference play, advancing to the RSC Tournament final and earning another NAIA Opening Round victory before reaching the final site in Sioux City and securing another “Sweet 16” finish.
The 2023 season saw the Cougars post a 34-4 overall record and go undefeated in conference play at 19-0, capturing a share of the River States Conference regular season title and advancing deep into the NAIA National Tournament, including a win over No. 23 Oklahoma Wesleyan at the final site.
In 2022, IU Kokomo went 30-7 overall while capturing both the River States Conference regular season and tournament championships. A year earlier, the Cougars posted a 28-9 record and 16-1 conference mark while securing another conference tournament title and national tournament appearance.
Even during the COVID-impacted 2020–21 season, Hayes led IU Kokomo to a 26-4 record and a perfect 13-0 conference mark, winning both the RSC regular season and tournament championships. The Cougars also earned a landmark victory at the NAIA final site with a five-set win over Keiser University.
The 2019 season featured a 27-14 record and continued postseason success, while the 2018–2017 stretch marked the program’s rise to national prominence, highlighted by multiple conference championships and the establishment of IU Kokomo as a consistent national tournament program.
From 2017 through 2018, IU Kokomo cemented its rise as a national contender, capturing four consecutive conference regular season titles and multiple conference tournament championships. The Cougars earned hosting rights for the NAIA Opening Round for the first time in program history and extended their national tournament appearance streak to four. Hayes earned significant recognition during this stretch, including multiple River States Conference Coach of the Year honors and AVCA Midcentral Region Coach of the Year honors, while the program also earned repeated academic distinction including AVCA Team Academic Awards and NAIA Scholar-Team recognition.
The 2016 season marked another milestone as IU Kokomo posted a 27-10 record, captured the River States Conference Tournament championship, reached the NAIA National Tournament, and secured the program’s 100th win under Hayes, while Hayes herself reached her 100th career collegiate coaching victory. The Cougars also advanced through opening round national competition and received votes in the final NAIA Top 25 poll.
The 2015 season was a historic breakthrough, as IU Kokomo posted a school-record 34-5 overall mark and an 11-1 conference record, winning both the KIAC regular season and tournament championships and earning the program’s first-ever NAIA National Tournament berth. The Cougars also recorded a 19-match winning streak during the season and were recognized nationally for their academic excellence.
In 2014, Hayes guided IU Kokomo to a 25-8 record and a second-place conference finish while earning her first River States Conference Coach of the Year honor, as the program continued its upward trajectory.
In her inaugural 2013 season, Hayes led the Cougars to a 28-11 record and a third-place conference finish, marking the first winning season in program history and laying the foundation for the program’s rise to national prominence.
Hayes arrived at IU Kokomo after an extensive coaching background at the high school and club levels, including 11 years as head coach at Frankfort High School, where she recorded 262 wins, eight conference championships, five sectional titles, and a state finals appearance. She also brings extensive club coaching experience and a decorated playing career at both the collegiate and club levels.
A standout player, Hayes competed collegiately at both the University of Montevallo and the University of Indianapolis after a successful prep and club career that included all-state honors and national-level competition.
Hayes holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Indianapolis and a master’s degree from Ball State University. She resides in Frankfort, Indiana, with her husband, Allen.
