Albion College has named Payne Hayden as its new head women's wrestling coach, with his tenure set to begin June 1.

Hayden joins Albion from Machine Shed Wrestling in Tecumseh, Michigan, where he has served as co-head coach and director of operations since 2022. During that time, he trained more than 100 youth wrestlers, working with athletes ages 7–18 from across southern Michigan.

In the 2025–26 season, Hayden coached 15 state champions, more than 25 Michigan High School Athletic Association state finalists, and 50 state placers. His coaching has helped produce athletes who advanced to the collegiate level at programs including Davenport, Cleary, Adrian, Grand Valley State University, Siena Heights, Central Michigan, Michigan State, University of Michigan, and Albion.

He has also coached multiple high-level competitors on the national stage, including two 14U girls freestyle national champions, a 16U All-American, and three Grappler Fall Classic champions in the women's and girls divisions. His athletes have consistently placed and reached finals at the state level in Michigan.

Before his time with Machine Shed Wrestling, Hayden served as a volunteer assistant coach at Ypsilanti High School during the 2017–18 season under Regional Coach of the Year Claudell Ruffin. He helped guide the team to the MHSAA regional finals despite fielding competitors in only eight of 14 weight classes.

As a wrestler, Hayden competed at University of Michigan from 2013 to 2017, where he posted a 17–17 record with six pins at heavyweight. He also served as a training partner for three-time All-American Adam Coon, who later earned a Greco-Roman silver medal at the 2018 World Wrestling Championships.

A native of St. Johns, Michigan, Hayden was a four-time all-state wrestler at St. Johns High School. He won the MHSAA state title at 189 pounds as a senior, finished second as a junior, and placed third as both a freshman and sophomore. He compiled a 189–22 career record, earned four all-conference honors, and was ranked No. 98 overall in the nation by InterMat, as well as No. 12 at 195 pounds.

Hayden also achieved success nationally during his prep career, placing fourth at Super 32, finishing sixth in both freestyle and Greco-Roman at U17 Nationals, and taking runner-up at U20 Greco-Roman Nationals. He won a freestyle title and placed second in Greco-Roman at the 2013 U20 FILA Junior Pan-American Games, while also earning Fargo and FILA Cadet All-American honors.

He graduated from Michigan in 2017 with a degree in cognitive science. Hayden and his wife, Kendall Taylor, live in Tecumseh with their daughter, Dani.

Hayden becomes the third head coach in Albion program history, following Adam Wilson (2021–25) and Jolynn Harris (2025–26).