Athens, Texas – Cougar volleyball assistant coach Aleah Hayes has been named head coach of the Trinity Valley Community College (TVCC) Lady Cardinals and will take over the program for the 2019 season. Hayes becomes just the second coach in program history at TVCC.

"I appreciate the tutelage Coach Washington and the Columbia College athletic department has given me while I am thankful for the memories I have made as a Cougar," said Hayes. "I am beyond excited to start this next chapter of my life and grateful for the opportunity Dr. Jay Kinzer and TVCC is giving me."

The Lady Cardinals are coming off their most successful season, posting a 28-7 record and making their first NJCAA National Tournament appearance where they finished fifth.  

Hayes has been on the sidelines of the Cougar volleyball program for five of the last six years as a student assistant, graduate assistant and the last two as assistant coach.

Prior to her coaching role, Hayes was a part of two conference championship teams for Columbia, anchoring the back line as libero. Aleah helped the Cougars to a combined 81-6 record in her two seasons, including a perfect 35-0 regular season conference mark and a national tournament runner-up finish in 2012.

Hayes will begin her duties at Trinity Valley on Monday, July 29.