Meet Jerome Hayes, Bayonne High School’s new head football coach

The Bayonne Board of Training has appointed Jerome Hayes as the new head soccer mentor at Bayonne Superior University (BHS). Hayes spoke with the Bayonne Neighborhood Information about his journey from enjoying for the Bees to foremost the group.

“I am eternally grateful for staying chosen as the future head soccer coach in Bayonne,” Hayes mentioned. “I’m really mindful of the very pleased, wealthy tradition that we have and I glimpse ahead to performing particularly really hard and bringing a championship solution to our city. I’m heading to work tirelessly until eventually that occurs.”

Bayonne born and lifted

Hayes was born and lifted in Bayonne. He graduated from Woodrow Wilson Local community Faculty in 2001, then from BHS in 2005. For the duration of his time at BHS, Hayes performed soccer for the Bees as a running back and linebacker. As a sophomore, he performed an critical role on the 2002 crew to assistance declare victory in the North I Group IV state championship over Hackensack Superior School.

Right after Hayes’ time at BHS, he went on to enjoy ball in higher education for Penn Condition University. He was a four-yr letterman, continuing to enjoy lineback from 2005 to 2010. Subsequent his run at Penn Point out, Hayes seemed to perform for the Countrywide Football League (NFL). He finished up taking part in in the Arena Football League instead.

“I had a few of workout routines with some nearby NFL teams,” Hayes explained “Ultimately, I ended up playing 4 several years in the Arena Soccer League for the Philadelphia Soul and the Trenton Freedom.”

Immediately after 4 yrs in the AFL, Hayes opted to shift from focusing on participating in football to coaching it.

“Once my physique instructed me it was time to hang up the cleats, I arrived again home,” Hayes claimed.

Again to Bayonne

Hayes returned to Bayonne whilst he went back again to school to earn his master’s diploma in schooling, in the meantime acquiring been included in coaching at Bayonne Large School due to the fact 2011 as an assistant. Eventually, he became defensive coordinator for then-head coach Rick Rodriguez. This was an essential time for Hayes, currently being capable to operate with Rodriguez who experienced coached Hayes when he was in college.

“He’s my mentor,” Hayes said. “We discuss every day. He taught me the recreation from a various viewpoint. You appear at the match otherwise as a coach then you would as a participant. He was gracious more than enough to clearly show me that way.”

Hayes held coaching at Bayonne less than Rodriguez, as perfectly as underneath his successor Jason Acera. Though at a person level he imagined about providing up coaching, Hayes was reinvigorated following acquiring a new coaching gig in West Orange. For the final 4 seasons, he has been a managing back again and linebackers coach at West Orange High Faculty below head coach Darnell Grant.

“In our a few time together at West Orange, we’ve been in the state semifinals two occasions,” Hayes reported. “So there’s no question in my thoughts that I’m going to check out to get some of the culture and some of the beliefs and provide that over to Bayonne.”

Whilst it will be challenging for Hayes to depart at the rear of a productive plan in West Orange, he is outside of ecstatic to return to Bayonne.

A new chapter in his hometown

“I’m really pumped up. I have previously fulfilled with the crew, spoken to them various moments, been associated in the pounds schooling system. I’m actually psyched to get after it. We have a rather tricky program this calendar year, so I’m looking forward to setting up on summer months follow.”

Hayes said there is a pleasant talent pool amongst the gamers at BHS already, as perfectly as among the the incoming freshmecn. A single of those new gamers will be a common experience to Hayes, his son Jerome Jr.

“I have a quite one of a kind opportunity with this group of incoming freshmen, because my son is a 13-year-aged eighth grader and he’ll be coming to the substantial university up coming calendar year. He’s played youth sports activities in the course of the city, so I’m pretty acquainted with the names, the faces, and the households and I’m looking forward to coaching them all.”

According to Hayes, he is at present working with the soccer workforce through the offseason.

“We’ve by now started stage a single of our power and conditioning plan at Bayonne Superior University,” Hayes said. “We received a pretty great turnout. There are some multi-sport athletes that are participating in other sporting activities, but I glance forward to them coming again and joining us as shortly as they are capable.”

Hitting the ground operating

Hayes reported he wishes to spare no time in preparing the staff for upcoming year, hitting the ground managing. He usually takes the reigns from previous head mentor Dwayne Williams, whose deal was controversially not renewed immediately after a 4-5 year but has referred to as Hayes a “great dude and good mentor.”

“I’ve been going full speed forward, making an attempt to just immerse myself in this local community again and make myself obtainable for most people,” Hayes reported. “I’m really just going to do the job as tough as humanly attainable.”

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