[4] An all-around athlete likened to Jim Thorpe, Hayward excelled at ice hockey, rowing, wrestling, boxing, and played lacrosse on one of the Ottawa Capitals' world championship teams of the 1890s.

In 1901, he moved north to Oregon, becoming the head track coach at Pacific University in Forest Grove,[2] where he trained future Olympic gold medalist A. C. Gilbert and coached the Boxers to the state collegiate track championship.

[4] Notable Oregon athletes trained by Hayward include: In addition to his track coaching duties, Hayward served as the athletic trainer for Oregon's football team, where he was known for inventing knee braces and other equipment for the players.

[13] John Warren succeeded Hayward for the 1947–48 school year, giving way to Bill Bowerman, who became Oregon's head track coach in 1948.

[6] In 2005, he was inducted into the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association Hall of Fame.