NCAA Track and Field Coach Clears the Air Over Poor Performances With Strong Message for Wake Forest’s Roster

Wake Forest’s men’s cross-country team made headlines with their remarkable seventh-place finish at the NCAA Cross Country Championships last month. But it wasn’t just the result that turned heads. Rather, it was the makeup of their roster. With one freshman, five sophomores, and only one senior competing, the Demon Deacons fielded one of the youngest squads in the nation, signaling a bright future for the program. 

At the helm of this rising powerhouse is the man who has been their guiding star. John Hayes, Wake Forest’s director of track and field and cross-country took them to a height going against several setbacks. Fresh off winning his second ACC Coach of the Year award in three years, Hayes has transformed the Demon Deacons into a team that thrives under pressure. 

Moreover, it was Hayes’ leadership that guided them to their sixth ACC Championship this season. They cemented their place among the nation’s elite despite facing significant challenges. Throwing light on the journey, Hayes stated, “Our final three weeks of preparation for NCAAs didn’t go great. We had a lot of illnesses and other things that came up.” In the same conversation with Citius Mag, the coach further added, “We never fade in the last 1K, so during NCAAs I thought we were going to be top four, maybe even top three. To have it go south in the last 500m was a little disappointing, but it’s also exciting to know what the future could hold.”

However, despite the setbacks and poor performances from the team’s end, Hayes chose to credit his team’s unshakable composure and maturity as key factors in their success. The Forest coach emphasized, “These young men don’t get rattled easily. They didn’t go to the starting line panicking…They have experience of stepping up when it matters.” The coach even added that they themselves, as their mentors, were more tensed than they were, “They just weren’t rattled. I think the coaching staff was more rattled than they were!” However, much of this resilience stems from the culture Hayes and his assistant, Brandon Hazouri, have cultivated through strategic recruiting. 

Crediting the assistant coach of the team, Hayes noted, “Brandon knows the type of people I would do well with and has done a tremendous job. These young men are extraordinary.” The roster, brimming with talent and potential, is poised for further growth, with most athletes eligible to compete for at least two more seasons. 

While illnesses and a tough final stretch at nationals might have dented their podium ambitions this year, Hayes remains optimistic about what’s ahead. “Everything that hit them, they just responded well and never gave up. I think that’ll show in the coming years with what you’ll see from these guys.” While he stated that his boys weren’t “rattled” by the tough situation or the setbacks, he also added how he aims to guide his athletes to shine in their careers.

John Hayes values composure and accountability in his athletes while aiming for the team’s success

For Wake Forest head coach John Hayes, the answer lies in unwavering composure and a steadfast commitment to teammates. “You don’t want someone that always has an excuse,” Hayes commented. “We all fail at times. I want somebody who’s going to own that, learn from it, and move on”, he added. Such a mindset also underscores the foundation of Hayes’ program, where athletes are expected to step up when it matters most. Reflecting on his team’s performance this year, he highlights a critical trait of success, and that is adaptability. He stated, “When one guy had a bad race, another guy would step up. That to me is one of the most important traits of a successful team.”

For Hayes, recruiting is about more than just raw talent. He seeks individuals who embrace accountability, thrive under pressure, and believe in the power of collective effort. “Going to the starting line, the expectation is to do everything you can for your teammates,” he emphasizes. This philosophy, modeled after the dominance of Northern Arizona University, aims to build a team culture where stepping up becomes second nature.

Now, as Wake Forest continues to build momentum under mentor John Hayes’ watchful eye, the Demon Deacons are no longer just a young team. Rather, they’re a formidable force with a legacy in the making.