University of New England Athletics

Rick Hayes has led the women's swimming team at UNE to a 55-22 dual-meet record through nine full seasons as head coach (not including four unofficial meets during an abbreviated 2020-21 season). He also coaches the club men's swimming team.

In 2024-25, the Nor'easters went 8-1 in head-to-head competition (a program-best .889 percentage) and placed 4th for a second straight year at the Little East Conference (LEC) Championships. Hayes and Co. were recognized as the LEC Coaching Staff of the Year.

UNE's first campaign with a primary conference was in 2021-22 under the Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC), and the squad finished 3rd out of 10 programs. Hayes was named GNAC Coach of the Year for his efforts, and followed it up New England Intercollegiate Swimming & Diving Association (NEISDA) Coach of the Year at the ensuing regional event.

Prior to 2020-21, the Nor'easters were a regular top-third finisher at the New England Championships. In Hayes' second season (2016-17), UNE matched the program best with 5th place out of 21 teams.

Check out this July 2020 Spotlight on Hayes...

Hayes came to Biddeford after seven years leading the men's and women's programs at Saint Joseph's College of Maine [NCAA III]. During his time with the Monks, he was named as the Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) Coach of the Year in the 2011-12 campaign. He coached 13 All-New England honorees over the years at the regional meet.

Before joining on at Saint Joseph's, Hayes served as assistant coach at UNE (2005-07) under the program's first head coach, Kate Roy.

Prior to entering the collegiate ranks, Hayes was head boys swimming coach at Deering High School (1998-05), where his teams posted a collective record of 44-8-1 and captured three consecutive Class A state championships (2003, 2004, 2005).

The Portland native and resident was a 2002 graduate of the University of Southern Maine.

LEC Coaching Staff of the Year (2024-25)
GNAC Coach of the Year (2021-22)
New England (NEISDA) Coach of the Year (2021-22)

Previous Head Coaching:
Saint Joseph's College of Maine Women's Swimming (2008-15) / GNAC Coach of the Year (2011-12)
Saint Joseph's College of Maine Men's Swimming (2008-15)

Women's Swimming Home

(updated July 2025)