Bradley University Athletics

A former Bradley assistant coach and Decatur, Ill., native, Amy Hayes returned to The Hilltop in the summer of 2008 and has led the Braves to the first two NCAA Tournament appearances in school history during her 13 years on The Hilltop.  A 1992 graduate of Evansville, Hayes is beginning her 14th year as Bradley's head coach and 21st overall as a collegiate head coach.

The 10th coach in program history, Hayes took over as the all-time wins leader in program history during a 2019 season (29-21) which resulted in Bradley’s most wins since 2004. In fact, the Braves tied the school record for MVC wins in 2019, closing with a 15-10 mark to finish fourth and the team’s league winning percentage was its best dating back to 1994. 

Hayes owns a school record 127 MVC victories to rank 10^th in MVC history, while she is third all-time in school history in games coaches (639) among all sports behind only Dewey Kalmer (1,616 games) and A.J. Robertson (907 games). 

She earned her 400^th career coaching victory with an 8-0 blanking of Saint Louis to open the 2018 season and picked up her 200^th win as head coach of the Braves later that same season in the first game of a doubleheader at Indiana State.  Owning 249 victories as head coach at Bradley she broke the Bradley Softball career wins mark Feb. 15, 2019 against Montana. 

Hayes heads into her 14th season at Bradley with a 269-370 record as head coach of the Braves and a 482-546 mark in 20 years as a head coach.

During her 13-year tenure at Bradley, the Braves have produced 12 NFCA All-Mideast Region picks, one CoSIDA Academic All-American, 12 First-Team All-MVC selections, 18 second-team all-league honorees, four CoSIDA Academic All-District choices and 17 First-Team Valley Scholar-Athletes.

Bradley finished the 2021 campaign with 12 Valley wins to tie for the fourth most conference victories in school history.  In addition, the Braves swept the season series from Missouri State for the first time since 2009 and claimed the series from Drake for the first time dating back to 2015.  Bradley closed the year with a 13-6 home mark for the team’s most home victories going back to 2009 (16-9).

In the abbreviated 2020 season, Bradley was off to a 14-9 start which included a season-opening victory over #20 Arkansas.  The Braves were on pace to post a winning record in back-to-back seasons for the first time since 2006 & 2007.  As a team, Bradley was hitting .304 for the team’s highest batting average since 1994 and opponents had hit just .269 against BU pitching (best since 2012) to go with four shutouts. 

In 2019, Bradley boasted one of the most explosive lineups in the nation and ranked eighth in the country in homers per contest.  Three Braves hit 12 or more homers as the squad averaged a MVC season record 5.86 runs per game to rank 22^nd in the nation.  Allison Apke and Kealia Wysocki both earned NFCA All-Region honors as the pair combined with First-Team All-MVC pick Stacia Seeton to form just the third trio in MVC history to each 12 or more homers in the same season. 

The 2019 season was highlighted by the longest road win streak in program history (11 games), which featured a victory at Missouri, and the Braves were 13-6 in true road contests.   
 
Maria Schroeder become the third two-time NFCA All-Mideast Region selection in program history during the 2018 campaign.  Schroeder scored a Valley-best 39 runs to help the Braves lead the league in scoring.  Apke was a First-Team All-Valley pick after she tied the Bradley season home run record (12) and drove in 44 runs during a campaign in which the Braves slugged school records for doubles and home runs in addition to leading the conference in slugging percentage.  Seeton helped highlight the offensive showcase with a Bradley freshman record with nine home runs as she joined Schroeder as All-MVC Second Team picks. 

The Braves faced five top-25 opponents during the non-conference schedule in 2018, including a pair of home games against NCAA National runner-up Washington.  The Huskies were part of Bradley’s season-opening tournament played at the Louisville Slugger Sports Complex and marked the first home games against a top-25 team in program history. 

For the first time in program history a trio of Braves garnered NFCA All-Mideast Region plaudits with seniors Kelly Kapp and Caitlyn McCarron taking home first-team honors and Schroeder a third-team selection in 2017.  Kapp and McCarron wrapped up their career with record-setting performances and were both First-Team All-MVC picks.  The MVC’s season (41) and career (98) stolen base record holders, Kapp broke her own school season hits record with 78 and hit a league-best .438 to rank ninth in the nation.  McCarron’s .428 average was second in the Valley and also ranks second among school marks, while her .686 slugging percentage broke Bradley’s season mark before being topped by Apke’s conference-best .699 slugging percentage in 2018. 

Playing one of the toughest schedules in the Missouri Valley Conference, the 2017 season included an 18-8 six-inning victory over Oregon State along with a 2-1 win at 16^th-ranked Louisiana-Lafayette for the first true road win against a top-25 opponent in program history. 

In 2016, Alyson Clemente and Kapp both earned NFCA All-Mideast Region to give the Braves two all-region performers in the same season for the first time in program history.  In addition, four Braves were named Second-Team All-MVC for the most all-conference selections for Bradley since 1994. 

A late season surge, which saw the Braves go 13-14 after a 5-16 start to the year helped Bradley tie for fifth in the league standings in 2016.  Bradley clubbed a MVC record 44 doubles in Valley games en route to tying the previous school record for doubles with 71.  The Braves also boasted a.447 slugging percentage, thanks in part to Rachel Huggins then school season record 12 home runs.  Highlights of the season also included Bradley taking the regular-season series from I-74 rival Illinois State for the first time since 1987.  

The 2015 season featured Bradley matching the school record for league wins with a 15-12 mark.  The Braves rebounded from a rough start to go 16-7 over the final 23 regular-season games. 

One of the best offensive seasons in school history, Bradley averaged a then school record 4.78 runs per game in 2015 with three players scoring 34 or more runs.  Kapp led the MVC in hits (76) and stolen bases (31), becoming just the second player in league history with 75 hits and 30 steals.  She had a school record 16-game hit streak as her .386 batting average ranked third in the MVC and was the best at Bradley since 1995 before she hit .405 as a junior in 2016.

Freshman outfielder Erika Hansen ranked among the national leaders with 20 doubles and became the first player in league history with 50 hits, 20 doubles, 30 runs, 40 RBI and 30 walks in a season.  Hansen earned Third-Team NFCA All-Region honors in addition to First-Team All-MVC recognition after hitting .369 in her rookie season. 

In addition to the offensive exploits of the outfielders, Shannon King took home First-Team All-Valley honors after an impressive performance in conference play.  King tied the school record for RBI in conference play (24) and led the team with seven home runs.  The school record holder in career games played, she wrapped up her career among the top 10 in Bradley history in hits, home runs and RBI in addition to becoming just the second Brave to have two seasons with 30 or more RBI.  Schroeder, who would go on to become just the second player to rank among the top 20 in MVC history in career runs and RBI, was a Second-Team All-MVC honoree as a freshman after leading the team with a freshman record 38 runs.  Schroeder also drove in 34 runs as she joined Natalie Quinn (1996) as the only players in school history with 38 runs and at least 34 RBI in a season. 

Along with her on-field exploits, King earned the 2015 Orsborn Award marking the second consecutive year a Bradley softball player earned the distinction.  

After a regular-season which included the most regular-season victories (24) since 2007 (25) and a 15-12 regular-season conference mark which resulted in a fourth-place league finish in 2014, Bradley rallied from behind for three wins in three days to claim the 2014 MVC Tournament title.

The Braves clubbed a then school season record 41 homers in 2014 and used timely long balls during the Valley Tournament run to earn the team’s second NCAA Tournament trip.  Tournament MVP, Madeline Lynch-Crumrine, became the first Brave to earn All-MVC honors all four seasons and joined BU Hall of Fame member Beth Hawkins as the only three-time First-Team All-Valley selection.  Lynch-Crumrine finished her career as just the third individual in league history with 45 or more career wins and 150 or more hits.

Kendall Duffy and Marina Groenewegen both garnered second-team all-league honors and Bradley had a school-record four individuals receive MVC Scholar-Athlete honors.  Joining Lynch-Crumrine as First-Team Valley Scholar-Athletes were 2014 Charles Orsborn Award winner Bailiegh Basham and the 2014 MVC Elite Award recipient Mariah Cole, who were both repeat First-Team Scholar-Athletes.

The 2013 season saw the Braves jump out to a 20-12 start to the year which included a  2-1 victory against eight-time national champion and then 13th-ranked Arizona.

Lynch-Crumrine became the third player in school history to earn all-conference honors in three seasons, joining Basham on the Valley’s second team.  Lynch-Crumrine also earned repeat All-Mideast region honors to become the first two-time all-region selection in program history, while Basham and Cole were both Second-Team Capital Once Academic All-District selections.

Bradley ended the 2012 season on a strong note, snapping MVC regular-season champion Northern Iowa's 18-game regular-season conference win streak in addition to taking two of three games from Southern Illinois for BU's first series victory against the Salukis since the 2000 season. Lynch-Crumrine earned First-Team All-Missouri Valley Conference honors for the second straight year and became just the fourth player in program history to be named a Louisville Slugger NFCA All-Mideast Region selection.

In addition to Lynch-Crumrine's honors in 2012, Basham set school season records for walks (36), hit by pitch (12) and on base percentage (.480) after transferring from Lake Land College.

In 2011, Lynch-Crumrine joined Bradley Hall of Fame member Beth Hawkins as the only players in program history to earn First-Team All-Valley honors as a freshman. Joining Lynch-Crumrine on the all-conference team in 2011 was the senior duo of Brittany Fairbairn (first team) and Kate Singler (second team). Fairbairn, who hit .351 during her final season on The Hilltop, was a Second-Team Capital One Academic All-America selection and was joined on the Academic All-District Team by Singler.

The 2010 season saw the Braves post impressive early-season victories against preseason Horizon League favorite Cleveland State and a 4-2 victory at New Mexico State. Amanda Clack, who earned honorable mention All-MVC accolades, finished the year with the highest batting average for a Brave (.313) since Trish Kowalewski hit .326 in 2005. Janay Mitchell also garnered honorable mention all-conference honors in her final year on The Hilltop.

In Hayes’ first year on The Hilltop (2009), Bradley used an impressive late season run en route to the program's first Missouri Valley Conference Tournament title and subsequent NCAA Tournament appearance. The late season push helped the Bradley coaching staff garner National Fastpitch Coaches Association's Mideast Coaching Staff of the Year honors in 2009.

With one week remaining in the 2009 regular season and the Braves in ninth place in the Missouri Valley Conference standings, Hayes led Bradley to a midweek doubleheader sweep of Indiana State and three-game sweep of Missouri State in the final week to catapult BU into sixth place in the final regular season standings.

Bradley finished one-and-a half games out of fourth-place in the Valley standings with a 12-12 league record. The 12 conference wins were a school record at the time and the .500 mark and sixth-place finish were the best for the Braves since 1995.

The Braves were not done there, however, going on to win four consecutive games in three days to claim the State Farm Missouri Valley Conference Tournament title. Bradley opened tournament play with a 3-2, eight-inning win against Missouri State and followed it up with a 4-2 victory against #3 seed Northern Iowa later that same day.

In the semifinals, Bradley topped #2 seed Southern Illinois (5-3) to advance to the team's first championship game appearance since the 1996 tournament.

A pair of solo home runs and two-hit shutout by pitcher Ashley Birdsong highlighted the Braves 2-0 win against #1 seed Creighton as the Braves knocked off the top three seeds in the tournament in consecutive days to claim its first NCAA Tournament appearance. Bradley became the first host to win the MVC Tournament in the then 27-year history of the event.

Bradley extended its win streak to 10 consecutive games with a 1-0 victory against 15th-seed and 20th-ranked DePaul in the opening game of the Columbia, Mo., NCAA Regional. The 10-game win streak, which is tied for the second longest in school history, came to an end with a 2-1 loss to 12th-ranked and eventual World Series participant Missouri.

Bradley finished the 2009 season with a 26-28 overall record and posted two victories against teams ranked in the top 25. BU owned an impressive 16-9 home record, marking the second most home victories in program history.

Birdsong was named a First-Team All-MVC pick, marking the first time a Bradley player was a first-team selection since 2006. Birdsong also went on to claim MVC Tournament MVP honors and earned NFCA All-Mideast Region honors. Alycia Bachkora, helped highlight Bradley's offensive efforts, belting a school season record 10 home runs with 10 in addition to earning second-team All-Valley honors and was an ESPN the Magazine Academic All-District V selection.

Hayes came back to Bradley after three years as head coach at Portland State. She led Portland State to a 92-81 (.532) record, including the Vikings first-ever regular-season conference championship and NCAA Tournament appearance in her first season in 2006. She was head coach at Boston University (2001-04) for four seasons and led the Terriers to three America East Conference regular-season titles, two conference tournament titles and back-to-back NCAA Tournament appearances in 2002 and 2003.  Her players went on to capture 20 first-team all-conference honors, nine all-region selections and three conference players of the year.

Hayes earned Pacific Coast Softball Conference Coach of the Year honors in 2006 and led the Vikings to a 38-20 record and first-ever conference title. Portland State, which was 17-28 the year prior to her arrival and had never posted a winning record since moving to the Division I level in 1999, advanced to the NCAA Tournament for the first time in program history and had three players earn first team all-conference honors in her first year. In addition, pitcher Mandy Hill was named conference Pitcher of the Year and also earned second-team NFCA All-West Region honors.

The next year, Portland State finished fourth in the Pacific Coast Softball Conference regular-season race and catcher Brandi Scoggins earned PCSC co-Freshman of the Year honors in addition to second-team NFCA All-Pacific honors.

In 2008, Hayes' Vikings finished 31-27 overall and tied for second in the PCSC regular-season race in addition to posting wins against PAC 10 conference powers Washington, Oregon State and Oregon. Portland State boasted the conference Freshman of the Year for the second consecutive year and had two first-team all-conference selections. Hayes was the coach for the Portland All-Stars which faced the USA Olympic team.

Hayes was an assistant coach at Oregon during the 2004-05 school year and helped the Ducks to an NCAA Tournament appearance during the 2005 season.

Prior to her one-year stop in Eugene, Ore., she was head coach at Boston University (2001-04). She led the Terriers to three consecutive America East Titles (2001, 02 & 03) and back-to-back conference tournament titles (2002 & 03). During that time she guided Boston to a 121-95 (.560) record, including an impressive 68-18 (.791) mark in America East regular-season play.

During her tenure in Boston, the Terriers swept the conference Player, Pitcher and Rookie of the Year awards in 2002, marking the first time in the history of the America East Conference that one team claimed all three honors in the same season. Boston University claimed 15 first-team America East All-Conference picks, seven NFCA All-Northeast Region selections, two conference Players of the Year, two conference Pitchers of the Year, two conference Rookies of the Year and 12 America East All-Tournament picks. During the summer of 2003, Hayes was the pitching coach for the Spanish National Team, helping the squad prepare for the 2003 World Cup Tournament in Italy.

Hayes took over the head coaching reigns at Boston University after a three-year run as an assistant coach at Virginia Tech. She helped the Hokies to an impressive 127-69 (.648) record, which included a 95-38 (.714) conference mark during her time in Blacksburg, Va.

In her only season on The Hilltop as an assistant coach, Hayes helped the Braves to a 25-37 record during the 1997 campaign.

She graduated from Evansville in 1992 with a degree in sociology with a specialization in anthropology and earned First-Team Midwestern Collegiate Conference honors as a senior. She served as a graduate assistant at Evansville during the 1993 season and was the head coach at Maroa-Forsyth High School in Maroa, Ill., during the 1993-94 school year.

Hayes played overseas in New Zealand after graduating from Evansville and competed for 10 years at the Women's Major Level from 1987-97.

Hayes has served on the regional and national ranking committees and is an active member of the National Fastpitch Coaches Association, where she has served as the chair of the Diversity committee and as a member of the Hall of Fame committee.  She also serves as the Missouri Valley Conference representative on the NCAA Division I Head Coaches Committee.

In 2008, the Bradley coaching staff founded POPS (Peoria Organizing Pride in Softball), whose mission is to increase continuity and strengthen the softball presence in the greater Peoria area through education and developmental instruction.

Hayes and her spouse Heather reside in Peoria with their son: Atton (12).