Hamline University Men's Basketball

Jim Hayes, a 1994 Hamline alum, was named the head men’s basketball coach prior to the 2013-14 season and is in his 14th season during the 2026-27 academic year. Hayes played for HU for four seasons and ranks fifth in career rebounds and 14th in points in the school’s record book. He also served as an assistant coach here for a decade afterwards and worked as an administrative assistant in the athletic department. That pedigree earned public recognition when, on November 7, 2015, Jim was formally inducted into the school's athletic Hall of Fame. In each of his first two seasons at the helm, the Pipers improved on their final record. The 2014-15 team beat MIAC playoff foes St. John's and Concordia, and Northwestern (which made it to the Sweet 16 in the NCAA D-III tournament) en route to an 11-win season. In his fourth season in 2016-17, Hayes led HU to a 14-12 overall record complete with wins at St. Thomas (for the first time since 1979) and sweeps of Gustavus Adolphus and St. Olaf. The Pipers made the MIAC playoffs that season as well, marking their first appearance since 2010-11. The following season in 2017-18, Hayes and the Pipers notched a 13-12 record with wins over St. Thomas (for the second year in a row) and Williams (then ranked No. 5 in the country). It marked the first time in six years that HU has had a winning season in back-to-back years. In 2021-22, Hayes led the Pipers to their first MIAC Tournament victory since 2010-11 with an 89-64 decision over St. Mary's (Minn.) in the first round.  The Rochester, Minnesota native led the Pipers to new heights in 2022-23 as their 15-12 overall record, and advancement to the MIAC Tournament Semifinal were benchmarks the program hadn't achieve since 2010-11. This was much do to their disciplined demeanor as they finished the season ranked 10th in the country in fewest turnovers per game (10.5), and 23rd in fewest fouls per game (13.7). Hayes and the Pipers continued to raise the bar with a 17-11 record in 2023-24, the most victories in a season since 1976-77. The No. 4 seed Pipers secured their second ever trip to the MIAC Tournament Championship Game on February 24, 2024, where they dropped a 72-71 decision to No. 3 seed Gustavus Adolphus. Among the highlights of 2023-24 was a seven-game win streak, which hadn't been achieved since 1990-91. HU's 2.4 turnover margin and 12.96 turnovers forced per game in 2023-24 both led the MIAC. In 2024-25, Jim Hayes guided the Pipers to a 17-10 overall record and a 12-4 mark in MIAC play, earning another appearance in the MIAC Tournament Semifinals. Hamline led the MIAC in turnover margin at +3.19, ranking first in the conference in fewest turnovers per game differential. The Pipers followed with another winning season in 2025-26, finishing 15-10 overall. Hamline opened the year with 12 wins in its first 15 games and led the MIAC in field goal percentage at .476, ranking first in shooting efficiency. Hayes has coached eleven MIAC All-Conference selections throughout his 11 seasons at the helm, including two-time All-MIAC team members Dior Ford, Zach Smith, Bradley Cimperman, Austin Holt, Brendan Ebel, and Raoul Vaidya. The Pipers have accumulated nine double-digit win seasons, two MIAC Defensive Player of the Year, and three MIAC All-Playoff Team selections under Hayes' leadership.   A two-year captain and All-MIAC player, Hayes led the Pipers to a playoff appearance in 1993-94, his senior season. Two decades later, he is still fifth all-time in school history in rebounds with 554 and one of just 14 players who has scored 1,200 points in his career. Upon graduation, he stayed at his alma mater, serving as an assistant for the next 10 seasons. HU became a defensive stalwart in that time period. In his final season here, the Pipers finished second in the league without the ball, holding opponents to just 41.5 percent accuracy.   “It is a dream come true to be leading this program,” Hayes said. “I am fortunate to have played for and coached with tremendous mentors that have prepared me for this opportunity. I enjoy continuing to connect with our incredible alumni network and the Hamline campus, while also helping our student-athletes pursue excellence on and off the court.”   Before returning to his alma mater, Hayes spent seven seasons at Carleton and was an assistant coach at St. Thomas.   Hayes and his wife Andrea (a Hamline women’s basketball alum and 2000 graduate) have three children, Sevona, Tysen, and Carter.

Ryan Wockenfus joined the Hamline men’s basketball coaching staff before the 2021-22 campaign, and will embark on his fifth season as assistant coach in 2025-26. Wockenfus is an integral part of the Hamline men's basketball coaching staff, consistently impacting the program since his arrival. His tenure has seen the Pipers achieve four consecutive MIAC Playoff appearances, each including at least one victory, and a landmark MIAC Championship appearance in 2023-24. Under his guidance, Hamline's win percentage steadily improved each season. Wockenfus has been instrumental in the development of exceptional student-athletes, including two MIAC Defensive Player of the Year winners in Austin Holt and Brendan Ebel, as well as nine MIAC All-Conference performers, four All-MIAC Playoff Team selections, and multiple D3Hoops.com All-Region and Team of the Week honorees. He has also coached two 1,000-point scorers in Bradley Cimperman and Austin Holt, twelve MIAC Player of the Week winners, eleven NABC Honors Court members, and four CSC Academic All-District selections, demonstrating a commitment to both on-court success and academic excellence.   Wockenfus came to Hamline after spending five seasons as an assistant coach at Lawrence University in Appleton, Wisconsin. Before Lawrence, Wockenfus spent a season with Marian University, and three seasons at Saint Mary’s (Minn.). The New London, Wisconsin native was a two-sport athlete at Saint Mary's (Minn.), competing in both basketball and track and field.  Wockenfus was the 2011 MIAC Outdoor Track & Field Champion in the javelin, and is currently the school record holder in that event. He obtained his bachelor's degree in elementary education from Saint Mary's (Minn.) in 2011. In 2015, Wockenfus earned a Master of Arts degree in management, also from Saint Mary's. Wockenfus lives in Saint Paul with his children, Eloise and Barrett. 

Jackson Shelstad joined the Hamline University men’s basketball coaching staff prior to the start of the 2024–25 season and is entering his second season on staff. Shelstad graduated from Washington State University in the spring of 2024 with a degree in Humanities. Prior to earning his degree, he studied Sport Management at the University of Minnesota and served as a manager for the men’s basketball program, where he handled daily operational tasks, traveled with the team, and assisted in player development. In addition to coaching, Shelstad is an experienced basketball trainer with Midwest Basketball Training (MBT).

Christian Reyes joined the Hamline University men’s basketball coaching staff in 2025 as an assistant coach. Before arriving at Hamline, Reyes served as a varsity assistant coach at Washburn High School in Minneapolis, where he focused on player development, scouting, and game preparation. He also serves as the head coach for the Minnesota Fury Boys Basketball program, one of the region’s premier AAU programs, where he mentors and develops high-level student-athletes. In addition to coaching, Reyes is a fourth-grade teacher at Tanglen Elementary School in Hopkins, Minnesota. Reyes lives in Brooklyn Park with his wife, Kayla, and their daughter, Celeste.