John Hayden began his tenure at Barton in May of 2021 after finishing up a 20-year stint as the Head Coach at Apex (N.C.) High School. 

During his tenure at Apex, he compiled a record of 302-75, won three State Championships, was State Runner Up three more times, coached in nine Final Fours and placed 45 players into elite colleges, service academies and other NCAA Division I, II, and III programs.

Hayden graduated from Rutgers University with a degree in History where he played on multiple nationally-ranked teams and played in two NCAA playoffs. Additionally, Hayden earned a Masters in Counseling and 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 Head Coach at Ravenscroft (N.C.) High School before founding the program at Apex in 2001.

Hayden was inducted into the North Carolina Lacrosse Hall of Fame in 2018 and the Apex High School Athletics Hall of Fame in 2019.  Hayden and his wife, Susan, are long-time North Carolina residents and have two adult children:  Jack and Lindsay.