When the Collinsville High School boy’s soccer team plays Granite City next season, Jeff Hayes will once again be on the sideline for the match. But this time, he will be there as the Kahoks’ new assistant coach rather than the head coach of the Warriors.

Jeff Hayes, assistant boys soccer coach

Hayes said, even after being head coach at Granite City for four years, an assistant coach for three and a Granite City High School graduate, being on the Kahoks’ sideline will not be a problem.

“For me, I just enjoy coaching,” Hayes said. “Whatever team you’re coaching, that’s the team you want to see succeed.”

After this past season, Hayes resigned as the Warriors’ coach, but he said he did not feel like he was done coaching.

“I was just looking for a change of pace,” Hayes said. “I know Coach Hensler and what he’s done with that program. It seemed like a really good fit.”

Collinsville Head Coach Myles Hensler said he thinks Hayes is excited about starting at a new program and will give 100 percent.

“He loves coaching and developing younger players,” Hensler said. “There’s no doubt in my mind he’s not going to have any issues adjusting to wearing purple and white as opposed to red and black.”

In addition to being an assistant coach for the varsity program, Hayes’ new role also includes coaching the freshman team. He will remain a guidance counselor at Granite City High School, a position he has held for the pat 5 years.

Hensler, who knows Hayes away from the field, said he is a great role model and that he is excited to have Hayes as a member of the Kahoks.

“He’s the type of person who’s always looking out for the benefit of the team. He has a great knowledge of the game,” Hensler said. “We’ll use him a great deal for the development of our underclassmen.”

Before becoming the head coach for the Warriors, Hayes was an assistant coach for three years. The 1996 Granite City High School graduate said he still remembers playing some tough games against Collinsville.

“When I was younger, we were always going head-to-head,” Hayes said. “We had some pretty intense matches. When I was 16, 17 years-old, I never thought I would be coaching at Collinsville.”

During his senior year at Granite City, Hayes said he tore his ACL. After graduation, he attended Lewis and Clark Community College.

He eventually transferred to Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, where he tried to play again. He said his knee never came around, though, so he focused on his education.

Hayes graduated from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville in 2001 with a degree in heath education. He earned his master’s in Public Administration form SIUE in 2004 and his master’s in counseling from Missouri Baptist in 2007.

Hayes said he is excited for the opportunity to coach at Collinsville.

“I really have high expectations for the players there,” Hayes said. “I’m looking forward to getting to know them over the summer, during our training sessions.”

While Hayes has never seen the boy’s soccer team at Granite City from the opposite sideline, he has been on the opposite side of his former school.

“I actually coach Alton girl’s in the spring,” Hayes said. “Going back to Granite for the girl’s game was fun for me as well.”

When the Kahoks and Warriors meet this season, Hayes may have a little extra motivation to get his new team ready. Hayes said he remains good friend with Barry Grote, who an assistant coaches at Granite City.

“It’ll be fun coaching against him,” Hayes said.