Georgia State Dismisses Basketball Coach Jonas Hayes

Panthers failed to produce a winning season during his four-year tenure.

Mar. 14, 2026 at 2:38am

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Georgia State University has announced that they will not be renewing the contract of men's basketball head coach Jonas Hayes. Hayes had a 48-77 record over his four seasons leading the Panthers, and the team never advanced past the second round of the Sun Belt Conference Championship during his tenure.

Why it matters

As a mid-major program, Georgia State basketball has struggled to find consistent success in recent years. The dismissal of Hayes signals the university's desire to find a new coach who can turn the program around and lead the Panthers to more competitive seasons and deeper postseason runs.

The details

Jonas Hayes was hired as the head coach of the Georgia State men's basketball team in 2022 after serving as an assistant coach at several other schools. However, he was unable to guide the Panthers to a winning record in any of his four seasons, with the team's best finish being a 12-18 record in 2024-25. The university has decided to part ways with Hayes and begin a search for a new head coach who can revitalize the program.

  • Jonas Hayes was hired as Georgia State's head coach in 2022.
  • Hayes compiled a 48-77 record over his four seasons leading the Panthers.
  • Georgia State announced on March 14, 2026 that Hayes would not be returning for a fifth season.

The players

Jonas Hayes

The former head coach of the Georgia State men's basketball team, who was dismissed after four seasons with a 48-77 record.

Georgia State University

The public research university located in Atlanta, Georgia, which fields the Georgia State Panthers athletic teams.

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What’s next

Georgia State will now begin a search for a new head coach to lead the men's basketball program and try to turn the team's fortunes around.

The takeaway

The dismissal of Jonas Hayes as Georgia State's head basketball coach underscores the pressure on mid-major programs to consistently produce winning teams and make deep postseason runs. The university is hoping to find a new leader who can revitalize the Panthers and return the program to competitiveness in the Sun Belt Conference.