The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
The Spokesman-Review Newspaper The Spokesman-Review
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883
Current Temperature
63°F
Current Conditions
Overcast clouds
View complete weather report
Subscribe now

Key moments of Jim Hayford’s four seasons at EWU

Venky Jois celebrates after Eastern shocks Indiana at Assembly Hall in late November. (Associated Press)
By Jim Allen jima@spokesman.com
Venky Jois celebrates after Eastern shocks Indiana at Assembly Hall in late November. (Associated Press)

2011

March 29 – After compiling a 217-57 record at Division III Whitworth, Hayford is hired as EWU’s 17th head basketball coach.

Nov. 11 – In Hayford’s first game as Eastern’s coach, the Eagles play 23rd-ranked Gonzaga down to the wire before losing 77-69.

2012

March 6 – In the Eagles’ final game of the season, Montana rallies from an 11-point halftime deficit to beat EWU 74-66 in the semifinals of the Big Sky Conference tournament. The Eagles finish 8-8 in the Big Sky, their first non-losing conference season since 2006. They finish 15-17 overall.

June 22 – Eastern announces plans to add a video board and better seating at Reese Court; they are installed in time for the upcoming season.

Nov. 10 – With the youngest roster in the Big Sky Conference, the Eagles open the 2012-13 season with an 88-69 loss at Washington State.

2013

Feb. 9 – Redshirt freshman guard Tyler Harvey comes off the bench to score 14 points in the last 8:31 of the game and rallies the Eagles to an improbable 77-74 overtime victory at Northern Arizona.

March 3 – Eliminated from postseason contention one game earlier, the Eagles finish the season with a 65-57 loss at Weber State to finish 7-13 in the conference and 10-21 overall, the worst record in Hayford’s 14 years as a head coach at any level.

March 6 – Freshman forward Venky Jois was selected as the Big Sky Freshman of the Year, becoming just the fifth Eagle to win the award.

Nov. 13 – Without a senior on the roster but picked to finish fifth in the Big Sky, the Eagles open the 2013-14 season with a 92-80 loss at Washington. The Eagles led by as many as 11 points in the second half.

2014

March 8 – After a furious comeback, Eastern loses 82-78 to Weber State to finish 10-10 in the Big Sky and 15-16 overall, narrowly missing a spot in the Big Sky tournament.

June 13 – Hayford signs a new 5-year contract worth, $117,000 per year, plus incentives, an 18 percent raise.

Nov. 9 – Taking a cue from the football team, the Eagles play the first Division I game of the season, a breakfast-time, 86-62 win over Texas Southern.

Nov. 24 – Playing in front of 11,636 fans at storied Assembly Hall, the Eagles stun the nation and five-time NCAA champion Indiana, 88-86. “I told our team this is what the accomplishment of hard work feels like,” Hayford says after the game.

2015

Feb. 19 – Jois returns from an ankle injury to lead Eastern to a 78-75 win at Southern Utah to keep the Eagles in first place and earn their 20th win of the season.

March 7 – Eastern rallies from a 19-point deficit for a 79-71 overtime win at Weber State that earned the Eagles their first Big Sky title since 2004.

March 10 – After leading Eastern to its winningest season as a Division I school Hayford is named Co-Big Sky Conference coach of the Year.