Longtime Juniata football assistant coach Steve Hayes, who coached at both the high school and college levels, passed away suddenly last Thursday December 29. He was 67.

In totality, Hayes had been an assistant coach with the Juniata football program for over 25 years. Hayes served as an assistant under former Juniata head coaches Rob Ash, Brad Small, Chris Coller, Tom Gibboney, Kevin Burke, Darrell Alt, and since 2012 under current head coach Tim Launtz.

Hayes primarily coached the offensive line but was also the Eagles offensive coordinator for the 1999 and 2000 seasons, two of the top five seasons in Juniata football history for passing yardage. Over the two seasons combined, the Eagles posted 5,854 yards passing, including a team record 3,163 yards passing in 1999. The Juniata offense tallied 4,139 yards in 1999, the second-best offensive campaign in program history at the time. The 1999 Hayes-engineered offense also produced the program's all-time single season passing leader, Joe Montrella, who logged 2,932 in 1999 with 190 completions out of 355 attempts.

From Juniata, Hayes went on to Division I Bucknell University, where he coached slot backs in the Bison's triple-option offense in 2005. He coached the Bucknell offensive line tackles and tight ends from 2006 to 2009.

Hayes served as the head coach at Mifflin County High School in Lewistown, Pa. in 2011 and was at State College Area High School as an assistant coach for the 2010 season. He began his coaching career in the high school ranks, coaching at Kishacoquillas High School (1985-87) in Reedsville, Pa., and at Indian Valley High School (1988-89) in Lewistown, Pa.

Coach Hayes was a mentor to many Juniata men. Every player under his tutelage was made a better athlete and person because of him.