UIC Athletics

Brendon Hayden joined the UIC baseball team as a volunteer assistant coach in January, 2020.

In his first year working with the UIC offense in 2021, the Flames finished eighth nationally in batting average, ninth in slugging percentage, 20th in scoring offense and 22nd in on base percentage. Individually, Bryan Rosario finished 14th in the country in batting average, Thomas Smart was 19th in on base percentage and Matt Bottcher was ninth in triples under Hayden's guidance.
 
Most recently, Hayden served as a graduate assistant at Wisconsin Parkside while also serving as an instructor at Hitter’s Baseball Academy. During his time with the Rangers, Hayden served as the first base coach while working with the corner infielders, outfield and hitting instruction, recruiting, strength and conditioning and fundraising.
 
Hayden was drafted in the 16^th round of the 2015 MLB draft by the Philadelphia Phillies, the second time in his career that Hayden was drafted by the Phillies. The first baseman played two seasons in the minor leagues, playing the 2015 season with the Short A Williamsport Crosscutters before spending the 2016 season with the Phillies’ High A Lakewood BlueClaws.
 
In his two seasons in the minors, Hayden appeared in 121 games, tallying a .270 batting average while registering 138 hits, 15 doubles, two triples, three home runs and 32 RBIs.
 
His minor league stint followed a collegiate career at Virginia Tech in which Hayden was a First Team All-ACC honoree in his senior season of 2015. As a senior, Hayden led the Hokies in hits (212), doubles (17), and home runs (11). As a junior, the first baseman led the team in RBIs (43), home runs (7) and doubles (16).
 
A native of Twin Lakes, Wisconsin, Hayden graduated from Wilmot High School prior to enrolling at Virginia Tech where he earned a degree in human development in 2015.