Sowers living the dream coaching nation's top-ranked JUCO basketball team
Feb. 3—Hayden Sowers' coaching philosophy is, "It's all about the players." But it's hard not to see his personal mission — to grow and elevate — shine through in all aspects of his life.
In December, he proposed to his girlfriend of three years in Central Park.
"My life has done nothing but get better since she entered it and that's how I knew she was the one," the second-year South Plains College men's basketball coach said. "She's made me a better person and she's made me a better coach."
The results on the floor speak for themselves. In his second season at the helm, the Texans are the top-ranked program in the NJCAA and boast a 21-0 (7-0) record. Over nearly two seasons he's amassed a 41-10 record.
You can also add in the fact he stepped into some big shoes. After serving as an assistant coach to Steve Green during the 2021-22 season, Sowers succeeded the legendary coach ahead of last season. Green won 552 games over 22 seasons leading the program.
"Coach Green is the Nick Saban of junior college basketball," Sowers noted. "Immediately when I got here I knew why coach Green had won so many games and had won three national titles in 10 years. I just got in the trenches with them and learned everything."
The road to becoming a coach
Surrounding himself with people who motivate him to get better each day has been something Sowers has made a practice of since he entered the coaching profession a decade ago. But it started in his home growing up.
The Stamford, Connecticut, native moved to Tupelo around age 10 when his father, Mike, got a job in Booneville. The daily grind his dad put in made an impression.
"He taught me the value of hard work," Sowers said. "Not only to all these coaches in my circle, but I'm indebted to him for teaching me the value of hard work."
His father works in finance — not sports — but the language of hard work and discipline translate no matter the game.
"He's a CFO and I'm a coach. Two totally different things, but he taught me the value of how hard you've got to work at the job you're working so that you can be successful."
Naturally, when Sowers was breaking into the coaching profession in December 2013, it was his hard work that earned the eye of then-Ole Miss head coach Andy Kennedy and associate head coach Bill Armstrong.
He didn't officially become a graduate assistant until June 2014, but in the months preceding that, he made sure to be a constant presence and a willing helper.
"I ended up being the only one around the office for a couple of months before they planned on hiring the new GAs. I just went to the office every day, was around and worked, worked, worked," he said. "At the end of the summer Bill Armstrong told me he and AK had seen how hard I had been working."
So when he was offered the first step into the career he wanted, Sowers didn't hesitate.
"I knew immediately that I wanted to be a coach there when I was working at Ole Miss and I just ran with it," he said. "Had two really good years at Ole Miss and forever indebted to AK and Bill Armstrong for giving me that chance."
Making his mark
After his two-and-a-half years at Ole Miss, Sowers took his first full-time assistant job at Massanutten Military Academy in Woodstock, Virginia. He immediately started building his resume as an ace recruiter and a skilled instructor. He estimates some 15 to 20 players went on to sign with four-year programs during his two seasons at Massanutten.
In his next stop — four seasons back in Mississippi at Pearl River Community College — he would help the program reach new heights. But he also landed a transfer in LSU's Brandon Rachal ahead of the 2018-9 season that would be the turning point. Not only for the Wildcats, but also for his own path.
"That kind of changed the trajectory of my career," Sowers said. "He left the blue print and we were able to follow up on that."
He recalls having the blue-chip recruit on a visit and Rachal getting a call from Creighton head coach Greg McDermott. When Rochelle told McDermott he didn't want to sit out a season (under then NCAA rules), Sowers knew he had a chance to land him.
And land him he would, along with a handful of other top-flight prospects, including Tupelo native Cedric Brim, Jr., who starred at Shannon.
"When you're an assistant, working for really good coaches is what really helps you recruit and sign players," he explained. "You've got to work as hard in recruiting as you do scouting and trying to win a game. You're not going to win any games if you can't recruit and get the players."
Working hard to earn opportunities is something Sowers, 32, is no stranger to. And in those opportunities, he's been able to soak up all of the best qualities of his mentors.
"One thing I've always tried to do within my circle is find guys who are successful. Don't be intimidated to be surrounded by people who are just as successful, if not more successful, than you," He noted. "That's how you're going to grow and elevate.
"You can never be the most successful person in the room at all times and grow and elevate both personally and professionally."
Keeping South Plains on top
Sowers has now spent more time in the head coach's seat than he did as an assistant for one of the nation's premier junior college programs. And South Plains has spent most of his time as head coach ranked No. 1.
For him, getting to think about basketball, what it takes to win games and what it takes to make his players successful is living the dream.
"Every day when I wake up, I don't even think this is a job," Sowers said. "Getting to interact with all these coaches and these players and getting to coach basketball for a living is a dream come true."
But even more, he's thankful for the opportunity that was bestowed upon him.
"I'm forever indebted to him and the break (Steve Green) gave me. Not only hiring me as an assistant out here, but after one year vouching for me to the president and our athletic director to elevate me to get the keys to probably the best junior college program in the country," Sowers said.
Green won three NJCAA titles during his time guiding the Texans. And that remains the standard for South Plains. The veteran-laden team continues to find ways to win, grabbing an overtime victory over No. 11 Odessa College Thursday. And championship aspirations are warranted.
"The sky's the limit. If this team will defend and rebound, they'll go as far as they want to go," Sowers said. "Obviously, as we continue to win with this number by our name, No. 1, we're going to get everybody's best shot."
The team features Ole Miss transfer Malique Ewin, one of the nation's top junior college players and a host of talented second-year players like UAB-signee Jabori McGhee and Ball State-signee Jermahri Hill.
It also features a head coach in his second season with an adjusted mindset that can only come from his prior experiences.
"You really don't know until you get through year one," Sowers said. "I learned a lot. I made adjustments this offseason with how we operated and how we did things."
It would appear they're working, too. The Texans have nine regular season games remaining, starting with Midland College on Monday.
"At the four-year level they're looking for guys with winning habits and that know how to play with other good players. That's what this team is doing," Sowers said.
JUCO coaches trending up in high-major college basketball
The four-year level isn't just looking for the top junior college players either. With the success of former junior college coaches at the Power Five level — led by the likes of Mississippi State's Chris Jans and Ole Miss' Chris Beard — it's a trend that could continue. And it makes sense in the era of year-by-year roster-building we've entered in major college basketball.
Many junior college coaches have said, "welcome to the life of a JUCO coach," Sowers said, as transfers began increasing on the four-year level during and post-COVID.
"Every year you can expect to sign 10 to 13 new guys. And that's just normal in junior college. We're used to that. We've just got to get to work," Sowers said.
And that's one big reason he sees why former junior college coaches are having success at the top level. But it's not the only thing that makes it possible in his mind.
At some point, a good basketball coach is a good basketball coach.
"I'm huge on winning translates," He said. "No matter what level you're at. No matter what part of the country you're in. Chris Beard, Chris Jans. There's a reason they're winning now. They've won everywhere they've been."
Perhaps that trend will include Sowers someday. But for now, he will remain grateful to be where his feet are, because they're where he's always wanted them to be.
John Luke is the Digital Director for the Daily Journal. You can reach him at john.mccord@djournal.com.
