Barton men's lacrosse adds successful N.C. high school mentor John Hayden to the coaching staff

WILSON, N.C. - Barton College Head Men's Lacrosse Coach Warren Shumate has announced the hiring of John Hayden to the Bulldogs' coaching staff.

"This is an exciting day for our program as we welcome Coach (John) Hayden to our Bulldog Lacrosse family," said Shumate.  "John's (Hayden) 34 years of coaching experience comes to us at a perfect time in the life of our program. The student-athletes and I are ready to welcome him!"

Hayden just wrapped up a Hall of Fame 20-year stint as the head coach at Apex (N.C.) High School.  Apex's teams under Hayden's leadership are known for their attention to detail, grit, and discipline.  During his tenure at the school, Apex compiled a record of 302-75, won three state championships (2005, 2013 and 2015) and placed 45 players into elite colleges, service academies and other NCAA Division I, II, and III programs.

"I could not be more excited to get started at Barton College this spring", said Hayden.  "Leaving the program at Apex is not easy, but the opportunity to help build the program at Barton was too good to pass up.  As a newer program, Barton has been a bit under the radar, but when I visited here, met Head Coach (Warren) Shumate and the staff, and saw the facilities and commitment from the school that are already in place, I knew they had something special here and the sky is the limit." 

"These are (NCAA) Division I-type facilities from the locker room, indoor facility, state-of-the-art weight room, beautiful stadium and more on the way, Barton's facilities are in the elite category nationwide.  The school is thriving, growing and building and the location on the I-95 corridor and North Carolina weather, beaches, mountains, and cities, make it an ideal location that families will want to be a part of.  I can't wait to get going here and greatly appreciate the opportunity," added Hayden.

Hayden graduated with a bachelor of arts in history at Rutgers University, where he played intercollegiately.  Additionally, Hayden holds a master of arts in educational counseling and most recently has served as the Dean of Student Services at Apex High School for 21 years.  

The Farmingdale, Long Island, New York, native has experience going back to West Morris Central High School and Mendham High School in New Jersey.

Additionally, Hayden served as the Head Coach at San Diego State University (1990-93), Assistant Coach at Rutgers (1994), and then at Ravenscroft (N.C.) High School before founding the program at Apex in 2001.

"Coach Hayden shares our belief at Barton that coaching is an opportunity to aid our student athletes in their growth in the classroom, on the field, and most importantly, as young men," added Shumate.

Hayden and his wife, Susan, have been very close to college lacrosse in recent years as they have followed the playing career of their son, Jack, a fifth-year senior and captain at Hampden Sydney College in Virginia.  Hayden's daughter, Lindsay, is a sophomore at Wake Forest University.