THIS IS HOW
I MADE IT

Born and raised in Washington, DC, Janée Hayes began her athletic journey at Sidwell Friends School, where she excelled as a multi-sport athlete, earning numerous accolades in both volleyball and basketball.

 

Her outstanding performance drew recruitment interest from top programs including Duke, Penn State, the University of Florida, and UCLA. Ultimately, she chose to attend Duke University, where she competed as a dual-sport athlete in volleyball and basketball.

Following her collegiate career, Hayes went on to play professional basketball for several years before returning to volleyball in 2004 as the head coach of the University of the District of Columbia’s women’s team. In 2011, she returned to her alma mater, Sidwell Friends, serving as interim coach. That season, her team captured the Independent School League (ISL) Championship and finished as state runners-up. Hayes later went on to have other successful coaching stints at the National Cathedral School (2013–2019) and Coolidge High School (2022), where she was named District of Columbia Interscholastic Athletics Association (DCIAA) Coach of the Year.

For more than a decade, Hayes has also served as a successful club director, collaborating with the DC Department of Parks and Recreation to provide free volleyball camps and clinics for youth across Washington, DC. Through these programs and her leadership, she has coached and developed numerous All-League and All-Met players, many of whom advanced to compete at the collegiate level.

In addition to mentoring athletes citywide, she has trained her daughter, who earned selection to the USA A1 National Training Team in two positions, played volleyball at UNC Charlotte, and basketball at George Mason University. Inspired by her daughter’s athletic journey, Hayes has also authored and published two children’s books — Right, Left, Right and ME, ME, ME — which highlight the experiences of young athletes.

Known for her “old school” approach to player development, Hayes emphasizes resilience and growth, reminding her athletes: “Don’t tell me what you can’t do—show me what you can do.”