Following a search that extended beyond two months, Sul Ross State has apparently found its guy in Lee Hays. Hays changed his X/Twitter bio to read that he is the head coach of the Lobos.

Hays has spent the last eight years as an assistant coach at Lubbock Cooper after spending 18 years in the collegiate ranks. He was the offensive line coach at Texas Tech for four seasons before joining the Pirates. 

Hays began his career as an assistant coach working with tight ends and tackles at Texas A&M-Kingsville for two seasons before spending the 1999 season as the offensive line coach at West Texas A&M. He returned to the Javelinas in 2000, serving as the defensive line coach and recruiting coordinator. He transitioned to offensive line coach at Kingsville for the next two seasons.

He moved to FBS when he was named Baylor’s offensive coordinator in 2006, where he remained for two seasons. Hays returned to the FBS ranks in 2010 when Houston tabbed him to serve as the assistant offensive line coach. He served as the offensive coordinator at Tarleton in 2011. Hays returned to Houston in 2012 before moving to Texas Tech.

Hays inherits a challenging situation in Alpine. The program is one of the least funded in the Lone Star Conference, and the facilities are lacking compared to other NCAA Division II schools in the country.

The Lobos began searching for a head coach in early December after Barry Derickson stepped down for other opportunities. During his three seasons, Derickson led SRSU to an 11-20 overall record and a transition from the American Southwest Conference to the LSC.