If you grew up playing basketball in Yorkton, there is a good chance you have ran into local coach Tony Hayden. A man who loves the sport and coaching up dedicated players to achieve their goals, Hayden's countless hours either coaching local basketball teams, running summer camps, or helping players in individual skill sessions has produced decades of quality basketball in the city.
Now helping to coach the YRHS Raiders Sr. Girls basketball program in addition to helping out as an assistant with the Sr. Boys team, Hayden's years of teaching not only basketball skills but also lessons about the reward of how hard work can pay off with achieved goals was recognized with a Service Award presented by the Saskatchewan High Schools Athletic Association during their yearly awards banquet the past weekend.
Hayden received the Service Award for the East Central District, honouring a man who has spent over 40 years in the city dedicating his time to coach the youth about the games that he loves. A former teacher, Hayden provided the YRHS with countless young basketball talents as a coach of St. Joseph's Junior High School as well as serving as a teacher until 2000 where Hayden retired from teaching, but still remained in the city where he has been remaining active in the coaching community ever since.
Providing a helping hand to young basketball coaches at the Yorkton Regional High School, Hayden serves as an assistant coach for practically every team. Stopping by Raiders practices to help players with their fundamentals as well as to remind young players that work ethic is as important as skill, talent, or athleticism ever will be.
Hayden's help in mentoring young coaching minds and players has recently been instrumental in the YRHS Raiders Sr. Boys team winning back to back 4A Boys Provincial bronze medals, spending time with the majority of the players on the team from the time they were members of the YRHS Junior programs and in the elementary school system until they graduated. Bonding with players and coaches from all generations, Hayden is a well loved member of the local sports community who all owe a debt of gratitude towards the coach for dedicating so much of his time towards helping others improve and achieve their goals.
In his four decades of coaching sports in Yorkton, including minor football and baseball in addition to his love for the game of basketball, Hayden's presence and volunteer efforts make more things possible than you would think making his Service Award recognition more than deserving after spending countless hours in the gym and more helping others.
YRHS Sr. Boys head coach Jason Payne thanked Hayden for his dedication in helping young athletes, as well as also mentoring himself to become a better coach through the years working together.
"Tony has donated thousands of hours to hundreds of young basketball players and everyone of them has taken away more from him than just basketball," says Payne.
