Central Michigan University Athletics
Football
Hayden Mace
- Title:
- Offensive Line Coach
- Phone:
- @CoachHaydenMace (X)
- Year at CMU:
- 2nd year at CMU
- Hometown:
- Bend, Oregon
- Alma Mater/Year:
- Linfield (Ore.)/2012
Hayden Mace enters his second season at Central Michigan, bringing renewed intensity and leadership as the offensive line coach on Matt Drinkall’s staff.
Drawing on nine years of coaching experience, Mace helped guide the Chippewas to their first bowl appearance in four years, closing the season with 7-6 overall record and a 5-3 MAC mark. The team notched its highest win total since 2021. Mace’s offensive line yielded only 24 sacks for 153 yards, fueling an offense that accumulated 2,125 rushing yards and 2,172 passing yards. The Chippewas offensive line was anchored by Martin Koivisto, Jacob Russell, Dasan Smith, Brady Ploucha, Matthew Nehf, Jacob Booth, and John Iannuzzi.
Mace joined the Central Michigan staff in December 2024, after serving as offensive line coach/run game coordinator at Eastern Washington University during the 2023 and 2024 seasons. At EWU, Mace engineered a dominant offense, earning Top-10 national rankings in categories, including first and third down conversions (56.4%), No. 5 in rushing yards per game (229.3), No. 8 in red zone conversion (91.1%), No. 8 in total yards per game (444.3), and No. 8 in points per game (35.8). The Eagles’ shattered school records with 68 rushing attempts, 478 rushing yards per game, and 10 rushing touchdowns in a single game.
Under Mace’s guidance, EWU’s offensive line dominated, earning the nation’s No. 1 PFF pass blocking unit honor, ranking in the FCS, and allowing the 15th fewest sacks (1.17 per game) nationally. The unit was also rated as the No. 8 run blocking unit in the FCS and secured the No. 8 ranking in rushing touchdowns, and rated No. 16 in fewest tackles for loss allowed. Mace mentored All-American Wyatt Hansen, as well as all-conference honorees Luke Dahlgren and Jack Seelye. He collaborated on the Eagles’ staff with Central Michigan Offensive Coordinator Jim Chapin.
Before Eastern Washington, Mace elevated Sioux Falls University’s NCAA Division II offense, serving as offensive line coach from 2020 to 2022 and earning the additional role of offensive coordinator in 2022. His leadership propelled the Cougars to the top three of the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference in points per game, yards per game, and yards per play. Sioux Falls dominated in rushing, leading the and ranking 12th nationally. Four players earned All-NSIC honors, including Thuro Reisdorfer, who led the NSIC in rushing, garnered Second Team All-America honors, and became a Harlon Hill Award nominee.
In 2021, Mace guided a Sioux Falls offense that averaged 32.5 points, 413.3 yards per game, and 6.2 yards per play. The offense amassed 2,394 rushing yards to lead the NSIC and rank No. 13 nationally, averaged 5.7 yards per carry (No. 1 in the NSIC and No. 8 nationally), posted 28 rushing touchdowns (No. 1 in the NSIC and No. 15 nationally), and surrendered just eight sacks (No. 2 NSIC and No. 7 nationally). Mace coached All-Region honoree Brennan Moran and All-Conference selection Jasper Parks.
Mace served as a defensive graduate assistant at Utah State for one season in 2019.
During the 2017 and 2018 seasons, Mace served as quality control coach for the offensive line, tight ends, and quarterbacks at Eastern Washington. The following season, the Eagles advanced to the 2019 FCS National Championship Game.
Mace played center at NCAA Division III Linfield College in McMinnville, Ore., from 2008-11. He captained the team and received All-Northwest Conference honors twice. Mace led the Wildcats to a combined 37-7 record over four years, including a 19-3 mark during his final two seasons. The Wildcats qualified for three straight NCAA Division III playoff berths from 2009-11, reaching the semifinals in 2009.
A native of Bend, Ore., Mace earned a bachelor’s degree in finance with a communications minor from Linfield in 2012. After graduation, he accepted a job at Amazon, where he worked for four years before returning to football.
He and his wife, Katie, have two children – sons Denny and Maddox.
THE MACE FILE
Birthdate: April 12th
Hometown: Bend, Oregon
Family: Wife Katie, sons Denny and Maddox
Education
Bachelor of Arts, Finance, Linfield College (Ore.), 2012
Coaching Career
Offensive Line Coach, Central Michigan University, 2025-current
Run Game Coordinator/Offensive Line Coach, Eastern Washington University, 2024
Offensive Line Coach, Eastern Washington University, 2023
Offensive Coordinator/Offensive Line Coach, Sioux Falls University, 2022
Offensive Line Coach, Sioux Falls University, 2020-21
Defensive Graduate Assistant Coach, Utah State University, 2019
Quality Control Coach, Eastern Washington University, 2017-18
Playing Career
Two-time All-Northwest Conference center at NCAA Division III Linfield (Oregon) College from 2008-11 … Served as team captain … Led team to combined 37-7 four-year record; 19-3 over final two seasons … Led team to the NCAA Division III playoffs from 2009-11 … Reached NCAA Division III national semifinals in 2009.
Drawing on nine years of coaching experience, Mace helped guide the Chippewas to their first bowl appearance in four years, closing the season with 7-6 overall record and a 5-3 MAC mark. The team notched its highest win total since 2021. Mace’s offensive line yielded only 24 sacks for 153 yards, fueling an offense that accumulated 2,125 rushing yards and 2,172 passing yards. The Chippewas offensive line was anchored by Martin Koivisto, Jacob Russell, Dasan Smith, Brady Ploucha, Matthew Nehf, Jacob Booth, and John Iannuzzi.
Mace joined the Central Michigan staff in December 2024, after serving as offensive line coach/run game coordinator at Eastern Washington University during the 2023 and 2024 seasons. At EWU, Mace engineered a dominant offense, earning Top-10 national rankings in categories, including first and third down conversions (56.4%), No. 5 in rushing yards per game (229.3), No. 8 in red zone conversion (91.1%), No. 8 in total yards per game (444.3), and No. 8 in points per game (35.8). The Eagles’ shattered school records with 68 rushing attempts, 478 rushing yards per game, and 10 rushing touchdowns in a single game.
Under Mace’s guidance, EWU’s offensive line dominated, earning the nation’s No. 1 PFF pass blocking unit honor, ranking in the FCS, and allowing the 15th fewest sacks (1.17 per game) nationally. The unit was also rated as the No. 8 run blocking unit in the FCS and secured the No. 8 ranking in rushing touchdowns, and rated No. 16 in fewest tackles for loss allowed. Mace mentored All-American Wyatt Hansen, as well as all-conference honorees Luke Dahlgren and Jack Seelye. He collaborated on the Eagles’ staff with Central Michigan Offensive Coordinator Jim Chapin.
Before Eastern Washington, Mace elevated Sioux Falls University’s NCAA Division II offense, serving as offensive line coach from 2020 to 2022 and earning the additional role of offensive coordinator in 2022. His leadership propelled the Cougars to the top three of the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference in points per game, yards per game, and yards per play. Sioux Falls dominated in rushing, leading the and ranking 12th nationally. Four players earned All-NSIC honors, including Thuro Reisdorfer, who led the NSIC in rushing, garnered Second Team All-America honors, and became a Harlon Hill Award nominee.
In 2021, Mace guided a Sioux Falls offense that averaged 32.5 points, 413.3 yards per game, and 6.2 yards per play. The offense amassed 2,394 rushing yards to lead the NSIC and rank No. 13 nationally, averaged 5.7 yards per carry (No. 1 in the NSIC and No. 8 nationally), posted 28 rushing touchdowns (No. 1 in the NSIC and No. 15 nationally), and surrendered just eight sacks (No. 2 NSIC and No. 7 nationally). Mace coached All-Region honoree Brennan Moran and All-Conference selection Jasper Parks.
Mace served as a defensive graduate assistant at Utah State for one season in 2019.
During the 2017 and 2018 seasons, Mace served as quality control coach for the offensive line, tight ends, and quarterbacks at Eastern Washington. The following season, the Eagles advanced to the 2019 FCS National Championship Game.
Mace played center at NCAA Division III Linfield College in McMinnville, Ore., from 2008-11. He captained the team and received All-Northwest Conference honors twice. Mace led the Wildcats to a combined 37-7 record over four years, including a 19-3 mark during his final two seasons. The Wildcats qualified for three straight NCAA Division III playoff berths from 2009-11, reaching the semifinals in 2009.
A native of Bend, Ore., Mace earned a bachelor’s degree in finance with a communications minor from Linfield in 2012. After graduation, he accepted a job at Amazon, where he worked for four years before returning to football.
He and his wife, Katie, have two children – sons Denny and Maddox.
THE MACE FILE
Birthdate: April 12th
Hometown: Bend, Oregon
Family: Wife Katie, sons Denny and Maddox
Education
Bachelor of Arts, Finance, Linfield College (Ore.), 2012
Coaching Career
Offensive Line Coach, Central Michigan University, 2025-current
Run Game Coordinator/Offensive Line Coach, Eastern Washington University, 2024
Offensive Line Coach, Eastern Washington University, 2023
Offensive Coordinator/Offensive Line Coach, Sioux Falls University, 2022
Offensive Line Coach, Sioux Falls University, 2020-21
Defensive Graduate Assistant Coach, Utah State University, 2019
Quality Control Coach, Eastern Washington University, 2017-18
Playing Career
Two-time All-Northwest Conference center at NCAA Division III Linfield (Oregon) College from 2008-11 … Served as team captain … Led team to combined 37-7 four-year record; 19-3 over final two seasons … Led team to the NCAA Division III playoffs from 2009-11 … Reached NCAA Division III national semifinals in 2009.
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