Key moments of Jim Hayford’s four seasons at EWU
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.