Hays coaching career began in 1992 as an assistant at California Lutheran. After two years, he moved to Australia and performed dual coaching roles. Brannon graduated from Cal. Lutheran in 1993 with a degree in Computer Information Systems Hays lives in Denver with his wife Lori. The 2000-2001 season marks the beginning of a new era in Cougar basketball.
Last years coaching staff is gone, and there is a new staff in place.
CCU hired Metro State assistant coach Brannon Hays as the new head coach, who also added three assistants to the mix. Tim Brich comes down from Northern Colorado to take over as one of the assistant coaches, and Tony Peters and Sean Palmer came aboard as volunteer assistants. A solid core of players return from the 1999-2000 squad, including seniors Lewis Brown and Tom Dettman, and junior Matt Chambless, who is the team's leading returner in scoring, coming off a sophomore season in which he averaged 8.9 points per game. Inside, the Cougars look to get production from Dettman, junior Greg Cornett, and freshman Ben Barlow. All three of these players have the size and skill to make an impact down in the paint this season.