Eastern Michigan Athletics
Staff Directory
Emily Hays
- Title:
- Assistant Coach
- Email:
Emily Hays, named assistant coach of the women's basketball team, May 16 2024, begins her second season with the Eagles in the 2025-26 campaign.
Hays aided in the development of All-MAC Second Team selection, Sisi Eleko, who led the conference in double-doubles with 14 while also pacing the MAC in rebounds per game (10.1), and ranking second with 17.9 points per game. Additionally, Eleko was the only MAC player to average a double-double.
Eleko also earned MAC Player of the Week recognition, Dec. 3, after averaging 27 points and 10.5 rebounds per game while leading the Eagles’ to their first win in the Head Coach Sahar Nusseibeh era, a 72-60 victory over Xavier University, Dec. 1.
On the national level, Eleko finished the regular season ranked 21st in the NCAA in defensive rebounds per game (7.3), 23rd in rebounds per game (10.1), 26th in double-doubles (14), and 45th in total rebounds (283). With those numbers, she ranks 23rd in rebounds per game (8.81) for a career among active players in the NCAA while ranking 29th in double-doubles with 34. She also is one of only 167 players to have scored 1,000 points and pulled down 600 rebounds in a career that is currently playing.
Eleko finished her first season in Ypsilanti with 500 points and 283 rebounds, both of which held historical significance. Her 500 points made her just the 13th player in program history to score 500+ points in a season while making her the fifth to do so in her junior campaign. Additionally, the 283 rebounds ranked third on the program's single-season list with only Felicia Hines (1984-85) and Suzanne Huff (1980-81) posting more with 292 and 286, respectively. Her season averages of 17.9 points and 10.1 rebounds made her just the third player to average a double-double in a season for the Eagles.
Hays arrived in Ypsilanti after a 2023-24 season as an assistant coach of the Valpo women's basketball program, her third, that saw the Beacons earn four conference victories highlighted by a 79-55 win over MVC member, Bradley University.
The 2022-23 season saw Valpo earn the first win in program history over perennial MVC power Missouri State. The Beacons also won three consecutive road games in Valley play, the first time the program accomplished that feat against three different opponents since 2007.
In her first season on campus, Hays helped lead Valpo to a 9-9 mark in MVC play and a sixth-place finish in the conference standings, both of which matched the program's bests since joining the Valley. The Beacons registered the first win at Drake and the first win at Bradley in program history. Valpo swept the season series over Drake, the program's first two wins against the Bulldogs. The Beacons also tallied four top-100 wins within Valley play.
Hays arrived at Valpo after spending the last seven years as a head coach, including the last four at Dickinson College. Under Hays' guidance, Dickinson posted improved records in each of her three seasons, culminating with a 16-win campaign in 2019-20 which saw the Red Devils advance to the conference tournament semifinals. Dickinson did not compete in the 2020-21 season due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
In her three seasons, Hays coached four Red Devils players to a total of five All-Conference accolades, including a trio of honorees following the 2019-20 season. Kate Deutsch was named Centennial Conference Rookie of the Year and D3Hoops.com Mid-Atlantic Rookie of the Year for 2018-19 as well.
Prior to arriving at Dickinson, Hays served as head coach at Hiram College for three seasons. She led the Terriers to a school-record 17 wins in 2016-17 in her final season at the helm and saw the team surpass the program record for conference victories in each of her final two years.
Hays started her coaching career at her alma mater, Washington & Jefferson College, where she spent four seasons as an assistant coach. She helped guide the Presidents to consecutive 20-win campaigns in her final two years on staff in 2012-13 and 2013-14.
A 2009 graduate of Washington & Jefferson College, Hays was a three-time All-Conference selection on the hardwood and was Presidents Athletic Conference Player of the Year and a First Team All-Region honoree as a senior. During her playing career, the Presidents earned 89 victories and were ranked in the nation's top-25 in three of her four seasons.
Hays aided in the development of All-MAC Second Team selection, Sisi Eleko, who led the conference in double-doubles with 14 while also pacing the MAC in rebounds per game (10.1), and ranking second with 17.9 points per game. Additionally, Eleko was the only MAC player to average a double-double.
Eleko also earned MAC Player of the Week recognition, Dec. 3, after averaging 27 points and 10.5 rebounds per game while leading the Eagles’ to their first win in the Head Coach Sahar Nusseibeh era, a 72-60 victory over Xavier University, Dec. 1.
On the national level, Eleko finished the regular season ranked 21st in the NCAA in defensive rebounds per game (7.3), 23rd in rebounds per game (10.1), 26th in double-doubles (14), and 45th in total rebounds (283). With those numbers, she ranks 23rd in rebounds per game (8.81) for a career among active players in the NCAA while ranking 29th in double-doubles with 34. She also is one of only 167 players to have scored 1,000 points and pulled down 600 rebounds in a career that is currently playing.
Eleko finished her first season in Ypsilanti with 500 points and 283 rebounds, both of which held historical significance. Her 500 points made her just the 13th player in program history to score 500+ points in a season while making her the fifth to do so in her junior campaign. Additionally, the 283 rebounds ranked third on the program's single-season list with only Felicia Hines (1984-85) and Suzanne Huff (1980-81) posting more with 292 and 286, respectively. Her season averages of 17.9 points and 10.1 rebounds made her just the third player to average a double-double in a season for the Eagles.
Hays arrived in Ypsilanti after a 2023-24 season as an assistant coach of the Valpo women's basketball program, her third, that saw the Beacons earn four conference victories highlighted by a 79-55 win over MVC member, Bradley University.
The 2022-23 season saw Valpo earn the first win in program history over perennial MVC power Missouri State. The Beacons also won three consecutive road games in Valley play, the first time the program accomplished that feat against three different opponents since 2007.
In her first season on campus, Hays helped lead Valpo to a 9-9 mark in MVC play and a sixth-place finish in the conference standings, both of which matched the program's bests since joining the Valley. The Beacons registered the first win at Drake and the first win at Bradley in program history. Valpo swept the season series over Drake, the program's first two wins against the Bulldogs. The Beacons also tallied four top-100 wins within Valley play.
Hays arrived at Valpo after spending the last seven years as a head coach, including the last four at Dickinson College. Under Hays' guidance, Dickinson posted improved records in each of her three seasons, culminating with a 16-win campaign in 2019-20 which saw the Red Devils advance to the conference tournament semifinals. Dickinson did not compete in the 2020-21 season due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
In her three seasons, Hays coached four Red Devils players to a total of five All-Conference accolades, including a trio of honorees following the 2019-20 season. Kate Deutsch was named Centennial Conference Rookie of the Year and D3Hoops.com Mid-Atlantic Rookie of the Year for 2018-19 as well.
Prior to arriving at Dickinson, Hays served as head coach at Hiram College for three seasons. She led the Terriers to a school-record 17 wins in 2016-17 in her final season at the helm and saw the team surpass the program record for conference victories in each of her final two years.
Hays started her coaching career at her alma mater, Washington & Jefferson College, where she spent four seasons as an assistant coach. She helped guide the Presidents to consecutive 20-win campaigns in her final two years on staff in 2012-13 and 2013-14.
A 2009 graduate of Washington & Jefferson College, Hays was a three-time All-Conference selection on the hardwood and was Presidents Athletic Conference Player of the Year and a First Team All-Region honoree as a senior. During her playing career, the Presidents earned 89 victories and were ranked in the nation's top-25 in three of her four seasons.
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