Jonas Hayes is back in Athens, and Georgia basketball fans have a new salary figure to talk about. After spending the past four seasons as head coach at Georgia State, Hayes has returned to the Bulldogs as an assistant coach under Mike White—and his paycheck is now public knowledge.

According to records obtained by the Athens Banner-Herald, Hayes will earn an annual salary of $375,000. That places him second among Georgia's assistant coaches, trailing only Antonio Reynolds Dean, who brings in $475,000. It's a notable step down from his head coaching salary at Georgia State, where he made $502,000 per year according to USA Today's 2024 salary survey.

Hayes' tenure with the Panthers ended after a 48-77 record over four seasons, but his coaching resume includes a standout moment: leading Xavier to the NIT title in 2022 as interim head coach. Now, he's reuniting with a program where he made his name as a player from 2001-04 and later served as an assistant from 2014-18.

The impact of his return is already being felt on the recruiting trail. Saint Louis transfer forward Brady Dunlap cited Hayes' presence as a major factor in his decision to join the Bulldogs, highlighting how a familiar face can make all the difference in the transfer portal era.

In related news, the university also disclosed the salary for newly hired women's basketball associate coach Justin Payne, who arrives after three seasons as head coach at Nicholls State. As Georgia basketball continues to reshape its staff, all eyes will be on how Hayes' experience and connections help elevate the program in the competitive SEC landscape.