Aug. 18, 2006

Stockton, Calif. - University of the Pacific Director of Athletics Lynn King and Head Softball Coach Brian Kolze announced today that Assistant Coach Sara Hayes has resigned to take the position of Assistant Coach at San Diego State. A national search for her replacement will begin immediately and will continue until the position is filled.

"We are very happy for Sara," said Kolze. "She has done a great job here and now she has a great opportunity to get closer to her family and home. We wish her well and the best of luck in the future. She will always be a part of the Pacific family."

"I am very thankful to Coach Kolze, the Athletic Department and the University for allowing me to be a part of the family," said Hayes. "I am honored to have been able to get know such wonderful people and to have worn the Tiger uniform. I am happy, though, to be able to move closer to home and to be in a city with my sister and my parents."

Hayes has been the Tigers' top assistant coach for the past two seasons. Prior to coming to Pacific, Hayes served as Indiana's head softball coach from 2003-04. She compiled a 51-62 overall record in her two years, including a 32-31 mark in 2004, the team's first winning campaign since 1996. Hayes previously served as head coach at Northern Iowa from 2001-02, where she logged a 58-59 record. In 2002, she led the Panthers to their first winning season since 1998 and she also coached a third baseman to the program's first All-America First Team selection.

As an assistant coach at DePaul from 1996-2000, Hayes helped lead the Blue Demons to a 265-101 (.742) record, five NCAA Regionals appearances, and two Women's College World Series (WCWS) bids, the first two WCWS appearances in school history. She was part of the coaching staff named NFCA National Coaching Staff of the Year in 1999 and NFCA Midwest Coaching Staff of the Year in 1998 and 2000.