Jonathan Hayes has served as Athletic Director at Archbishop Moeller High School since the spring of 2024. Prior to joining Moeller, Hayes was the offensive coordinator for the Arlington Renegades in 2023, where he helped lead the team to an XFL Championship.
Hayes previously served as Head Coach and General Manager of the St. Louis Battlehawks from 2019 to 2020, earning Coach of the Year honors during the shortened COVID-2020 season. He also spent 15 years (2003–2018) on the Cincinnati Bengals coaching staff as Marvin Lewis tight ends coach, contributing to seven playoff appearances and four AFC North Division championships.
He began his coaching career at the University of Oklahoma from 1998 to 2002, where he was part of four bowl appearances, two Big 12 Championships, and a National Championship victory over Florida State.
As a player, Hayes enjoyed a 12-year NFL career as a tight end after being selected in the second round (42nd overall) of the 1985 NFL Draft by the Kansas City Chiefs, signed with Pittsburgh Steelers in free agency 1994-96. During his professional career, he made eight playoff appearances, competed in three AFC Championship games (winning one), and played in one Super Bowl.
Hayes was a standout collegiate athlete at the University of Iowa, where he was a four-year letter winner, a First-Team All-American, and was a 2-way player in 1982 playing TE, and MLBer, and a team captain his senior year. He participated in four bowl games, including a Rose Bowl appearance.
A graduate of South Fayette High School, Hayes was inducted into the school’s inaugural Hall of Fame class in 2022, as well as the WPIAL Hall of Fame class of 2023 in Western Pennsylvania.
Beyond his professional career, Hayes has been actively involved in numerous organizations and charitable initiatives, including the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation, the International Diabetes Center Advisory Board, Camp Shawnee, and the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. He is also the founder and president of Hayes Huddle and has contributed to Chiefs Core and other community-based programs.
Hayes is married to his wife, Kristi, a Drake University graduate, former All-American basketball player, and member of the Iowa High School Hall of Fame. Together, they have four children. Their son Jaxson (Class of 2018) plays professionally was the overall 8
th pick in the 2019 NBA draft going to the New Orleans Pelicans for four years, and the last three with the Los Angeles Lakers. Their daughter, Jillian, attends the University of Cincinnati, as a five-year starter for the basketball team, earned All-Big 12 honors, and now works in broadcasting with ESPN+. Their son Jewett (Class of 2024) played football and lacrosse at Moeller and currently attends the University of Virginia, where he plays football. Their youngest son, Jonah (Class of 2025), is a multi-sport athlete in football and basketball at Moeller and is continuing his football career at Northwestern University.
