Jim Hayford resigns after four seasons at Seattle

Less than a week after he was placed on administrative leave, Jim Hayford has resigned as the head men’s basketball coach at Seattle. Hayford was with the program for four seasons, going 64-55 overall and reaching the postseason twice.

Stadium reported last week that Hayford had been put on paid leave following reports that he had used racial slurs during a Redhawks practice. According to a source within that report, the incident was a “last straw” as “most of the players don’t like [Hayford]” and he had fostered a “hostile environment.”

A short statement from Seattle AD Shaney Fink on Thursday acknowledged that Hayford had been on leave since November 5 and that his resignation had been accepted:

“It is clear to me that Coach Hayford is no longer able to effectively lead the team,” Fink stated. “The top priority within the Athletic Department is, and always will be, to support the wellbeing and success of our student athletes—in and out of the classroom and in their chosen sport. We are committed to advancing an athletic community that is inclusively excellent. We will take additional steps to ensure any concerns within the program are addressed and that all our student athletes are seen, heard, and supported. As part of our commitment, Seattle University has initiated a review of the climate within the program.”

Associate head coach Chris Victor will lead the Redhawks this season in an interim capacity. Victor has been with the program since 2017 after working under Hayford for two seasons at Eastern Washington.

credit to Ethan Miller/Getty Images for the photo