Luther Hayes

{{Infobox NFL biography

| name = Luther Hayes

| image =

| image_size =

| alt =

| caption =

| number = 24

| position = End

| birth_date = {{Birth date|1939|3|7}}

| birth_place = San Diego, California, U.S.

| death_date = {{Death date and age|2017|11|23|1939|3|7}}

| death_place = Palos Verdes, California, U.S.

| height_ft = 6

| height_in = 4

| weight_lbs = 202

| high_school = Lincoln (San Diego, California)

| college = USC

| draftyear = 1961

| draftround = 10

| draftpick = 140

| afldraftyear = 1961

| afldraftround = 27

| afldraftpick = 215

| pastteams =

San Diego Chargers ({{NFL Year|1961}})

| pastcoaching =

Los Angeles City (1974)
Assistant coach
Los Angeles City (1975–1977)
Head coach

| highlights =

| pfr = HayeLu00

}}

Luther Hayes (March 7, 1939 – November 23, 2017) was an American football player and coach. He played professionally as an end for the San Diego Chargers of the American Football League (AFL) in 1961.{{cite web|url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/H/HayeLu00.htm |title=Luther Hayes Stats |publisher=Pro-Football-Reference.com |date= |access-date=2019-03-25}}{{cite web|url=http://www.nfl.com/player/lutherhayes/2516146/profile |title=Luther Hayes, OE |work=Nfl.com |date= |access-date=2019-03-25}} Hayes served as the head football coach at Los Angeles City College (LACC) from 1975 to 1977.

Competing for the USC Trojans track and field program, Hayes also won the 1960 and 1961 NCAA Division I Men's Outdoor Track and Field Championships in the triple jump.{{Cite web |date=2024-04-27 |title=Luther Hayes, USC’s Two-Time NCAA Triple Jump Champ Who Also Starred In Football, Dies |url=https://usctrojans.com/news/2017/11/28/luther-hayes-uscs-two-time-ncaa-triple-jump-champ-who-also-starred-in-football-dies.aspx |access-date=2024-05-12 |website=USC Athletics |language=en}}

Hayes was hired at LACC in 1972 as a physical education instructor. He was an assistant football coach under Al Baldock in 1974 before succeeding him as head football coach the following year.{{cite news |author= |title=Hayes named grid coach at LACC |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/highland-park-news-herald-and-journal/146814515/ |newspaper=Highland Park News-Herald & Journal |location=Los Angeles, California |date=August 7, 1975 |page=11 |access-date=May 7, 2024 |via=Newspapers.com {{Open access}} }}

Hayes died on November 23, 2017, in Palos Verdes, California, at age 78.{{cite web|url=https://news.usc.edu/132018/in-memoriam-luther-hayes-football-and-track-star-at-usc-78/ |title=In memoriam: Luther Hayes, football and track star at USC, 78 |publisher=News.usc.edu |date=2017-11-28 |access-date=2019-03-25}}