Rick Hayes has been the University of New England head women's swimming coach for five seasons, and a collegiate head coach for 12 years. The Portland, Maine native has a degree from the University of Southern Maine.
What factor(s) made you most want to work at UNE?
From 2005-07, I served as the assistant swim coach under Kate Roy. I loved UNE and could see tremendous potential for the team and the school. I went on to take a head coaching role at another school, but when the position opened at UNE, I decided to at least look into it. After my interview and trip back on campus as a potential coach, I was struck by how much the school had grown, in multiple aspects. Academic offerings, buildings, athletics, I got the sense that UNE was really setting up it's population to succeed. When I left my interview, I knew I would take the job if offered. There were too many positives to not make the move. In the end, it was one of the hardest decisions I have had to make as a coach, to leave the program I had been working with and developing to come back to UNE, but it was easily one of the best choices I have made in my coaching career.
What is your favorite physical location on UNE's Biddeford campus?
Is it cliché to say the Campus Center Pool? On the pool deck, you can look out and see the soccer and rugby fields, as well as the ocean. The pool deck can have a ton of energy during a meet. The excitement of a close race or a broken record or when the meet comes down to that one last race. The place is awesome and you can feel the energy bouncing off the walls. On the flip side, one of my favorite things to do is when everyone leaves is sit and listen to the pool water trickling into the gutters and it just relaxes me. To me, it's a pretty special place.
What do you hope the UNE student-athletes learn from their interactions with you?
The swimmers will roll their eyes when they read this, but "Trust the process" (a favorite phrase of mine). The end goal is only a marker in the process. Once you reach that, you are on to the next goal. If you put all the focus on that one spot, you will miss the journey of getting there. It's not always easy, and some of it is blind faith that you will get there eventually, but don't focus on the end. Keep that in mind, but stay in the now, do what you can today, and take tomorrow if/when it comes. In the end, you can look back and how much you actually accomplished, whether you achieved the goal or just missed.
Why did you get into the profession and what has kept you in it?
I only swam for four years in high school, but I connected with the sport and it helped me tremendously. I learned so many life lessons, gained self-confidence, and made lifelong friends. My first year of college, I was local and high school team asked me to be a volunteer assistant coach that season. I loved it. I loved being able to impart the lessons I learned to those swimming. I loved coaching more than I loved competing. Seeing young swimmers learn from you and succeed in attaining their goals is one of the greatest feelings. Two years later, I was offered the head coaching position at 21 years old. This opened my world to a whole expanse of how I could influence these student-athletes, in and out of the pool. I began to form the foundations that I still use today, 24 years later. Hard work, dedication, mental approach, the team being a family, they have traveled with me, no matter where I coach. I'm still coaching because it never gets old seeing your swimmer succeed. In the pool, in school or in life, there is nothing like seeing that smile of accomplishment or the look of astonishment when they go farther than they ever dreamed. It's more than a 'happy' smile. It's a smile of pride and pure joy that they made it.
What is the best professional advice you have received; something that you try to apply to each and every day?
There's more to life than coaching and that you have to take care of yourself before you can be there for others. I really try to adhere to this, but it's not easy, especially when I'm in season. I give my all for my student-athletes. They trust me to get them to where they want to be, but if I'm not in a place to do that, I'm failing myself as well as them. I really try to take time for me, even if it's 30 minutes a day while in season, to recharge, identify what I have control over, let go of what I can't control and come back to coaching with a refreshed mind set.
What activity(s) do you like to do away from campus that helps balance your life?
I really love to fish, for anything. Being out on a quite pond or lake is awesome. Hearing the wildlife around you, you feel so remote sometimes. It's grounding. I also have started kayaking, so I try to do that as much as I can when the weather is good.
Catch up on previous spotlights:
Ed Silva, men's basketball
Danielle Collins, field hockey
Curt Smyth, associate director of athletics
Ashley Potvin-Fulford, women's rugby
Kasey Keenan '02, men's golf
Lyndie Kelley '11, strength & conditioning
David Venditti, women's ice hockey
Carly Gettler, women's soccer
Tristan Durgin '07, sports information
Sue Estabrook, women's lacrosse
