Dean College

Hayden Carter enters his second season with Dean Baseball after joining in 2025. He will be serving as the Pitching Coach and Recruiting Coordinator after spending the last six years at Palomar College in San Marcos, CA. He is also currently an Adjunct Professor in the Exercise Science Department at Dean. 
 
In his six years at Palomar, the Comets went 143-54-1, compiled a staff ERA of 4.17, and helped over 80 players transfer to 4-year universities (42 Division I transfers). Palomar won three consecutive Pacific Coast Athletic Conference championships from 2022-24 and reached the California Community College Athletic Association (CCCAA) playoffs in those three seasons. In 2022, Palomar reached the CCCAA Final Four State Championship and in 2024, reached the CCCAA Regional Finals. During his time at Palomar, 6 players (5 pitchers) were selected in the MLB Draft:  Kyle Carr (NY Yankees, 3rd Round, 2023), Braden Olthoff (LA Angels, 9th Round, 2021), Quincy Scott (TX Rangers, 9^th Round, 2023), Jacob Widener (KC Royals, 9^th Round, 2023), Mike Villani (LA Dodgers, 13^th Round, 2024), and Everhett Hazelwood (CH White Sox, Free Agent, 2021). Palomar also had two pitchers win the CCCAA Southern California Pitcher of the Year in back-to-back years (Logan Parker - 2022, Kyle Carr - 2023). Carter was also an Adjunct Professor in the Health and Kinesiology Department at Palomar. 

From 2019-21, Carter was the Field Manager of the Kokomo Jackrabbits in the Northwoods League, eventually becoming the winningest manager in Jackrabbits history. In those three seasons, 10 players were either selected in the MLB Draft or signed free-agent contracts. 

He also served as the Pitching Coach for the Milwaukee Milkmen in the American Association of Professional Baseball, and helped lead the Milkmen to an American Association League Championship in 2020. From that Milkmen team, multiple players signed MLB contracts, while several players are still currently on Major League rosters including Anthony Bender (Marlins) and Drew Hutchison (Tigers).

From 2016-18, Carter served as a Graduate Assistant/Director of Baseball Operations at CSU-Northridge and was also the Pitching Coach for the Jamestown Jammers in the Perfect Game Collegiate Baseball League (PGCBL). In 2018, Carter helped lead the Jammers to a PGCBL Championship, as well as an appearance in the PGCBL Championship Series in 2017.

Carter played collegiately at CSU-Bakersfield from 2012-2015. He was named the 2015 Western Athletic Conference (WAC) Pitcher of the Year and was the winning pitcher in CSUB’s first NCAA Division I Tournament victory, throwing a complete game over the University of Mississippi. He was a three-time Academic All-Conference selection and is the single-season record holder for complete games (8). 
 
He earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Communications from CSU-Bakersfield and earned his two Master’s Degrees in Recreation, Tourism, and Hospitality Management from CSU-Northridge and Kinesiology from SIU-Edwardsville.
 
Hayden and his wife, Alyssa, currently reside in Waltham, MA.