The most decorated player in Merrimack men's basketball history, Juvaris Hayes is in his third season as an assistant coach for the Warriors. 

In his first season as an assistant coach at his alma mater, Hayes helped lead the Warriors to a 21-12 record, including a 13-3 mark in the NEC and a conference title game appearance. Last year Hayes helped Merrimack to a second-place finish in its first season in the MAAC, and the conference tournament semifinals.

“It is great to have Juvaris back," Merrimack head coach Joe Gallo, who coached Hayes with the Warriors, said. “Nobody knows our program and what goes into winning at Merrimack more than him. He will be an invaluable resource for our players.”

Hayes was a four-year starter for the Warriors, earning Northeast-10 Conference Rookie of the Year after averaging 13.9 to go along with a NCAA Division II leading 9.3 assists per game as a freshman. The Warriors made it to the second round of the Division II East Regional during his freshman season. The Paterson, N.J. native averaged 17.8 points per game in his sophomore season and finished the year leading the entire NCAA in three categories: steals per game (3.9), total assists (255) and total steals (124). Hayes was named to the NE-10 First Team and Merrimack once again made it to the second round of the East regional.

In his junior season, Hayes was named NE-10 Defensive Player of the Year and averaged a career-high 19.3 points, 6.6 assists, 6.8 rebounds, and 3.9 steals per game. He led the nation in steals at almost 4 per game and was once again named to the NE-10 First Team. The Warriors won 22 games during the 2018-19 season, including 14 in the NE-10.

For his final season, Hayes was on the team that was the first to transition to Division I at Merrimack. In just his second game in Division I he was integral to one of the biggest wins in school history against Northwestern. Hayes averaging 10.7 points per game that season as the Warriors would win the Northeast Conference regular season title. He once again led the country in steals per game (3.9) and was named to the NEC First Team. He won NEC Defensive Player of the Year, as well as won the Lefty Driesell Award which is given to the nation’s most outstanding Division I defender. Others to win the award include, Anthony Davis and Kent Bazemore.

Hayes would finish his career as the NCAA’s all-time leader in steals with 457 and finished his career at Merrimack as the all-time leader in assists with 952. He also holds Merrimack's record for most assists in a season with 287, ranks fifth in career rebounds (741) and seventh in career points (1,951).

After graduation, Hayes played in Europe for two seasons. Playing with the Itzehoe Eagles in Germany and the BC TS Tbilisi in Georgia.