Hayden began serving Idlewild Baptist Church as Pastor to Students and Families in October 2021. He has served at various churches across North Carolina with Youth, College, and Young Adult ministries. Prior to this, Hayden also served with Fellowship of Christian Athletes at UNC Charlotte and in the greater-Charlotte region.
Hayden currently serves as a Chaplain (1LT) with the United States Army Reserves and is endorsed by NAMB. He completed his Master of Divinity degree at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary in 2023.
Before becoming a founding member of the inaugural football team at UNC-Charlotte, Hayden grew up in the Raleigh area of North Carolina. Hayden and his wife, Meredith, met at UNC-Charlotte’s Fellowship of Christian Athletes as student athletes as Meredith was playing softball. Hayden and Meredith were married in 2019, had their first daughter Kara in 2023, and have a desire to disciple and encourage students and young adults in the Gospel of Jesus Christ.