VMI Athletics

Ingram announces Defensive Staff - 1/21/2026

Hayes will also join VMI from Cornell, where he worked under Backus as a defensive analyst. A native of North Syracuse, New York, Hayes played quarterback for Ithaca, appearing in 18 games over two years, graduating with a degree in business administration with a concentration in sport management in 2023.

In the fall of 2023, Hayes coached at a local high school before joining the Ithaca staff as an offensive assistant in November. Shortly after, Hayes would move on to Cornell, serving as special teams quality control in addition to his analyst duties.