William "Bill" Hayes Appointed NCCU Athletics Director
May 28, 2003
By Eric N. Moore
Onnidan Online Editor
North Carolina Central University officially introduced William “Bill” Hayes
as its next athletics director at a press conference in the
school’s Board of Trustees conference room, Wednesday.
An NCCU alum and native of the Bull City, Hayes left little
doubt that he was happy to be back in Durham, paying homage
to several mentors who he said “turned my life around”.
William "Bill" Hayes
The former head football coach at North Carolina A&T and
Winston-Salem State was introduced by Chancellor James Ammons
as “an Eagle who has returned to the nest”. And
Hayes immediately began thanking NCCU mentors who helped shape
him from his college head football coach Herman Riddick, to
assistant coach George Quiet to former track coach and Chancellor
LeRoy Walker.
“I’m excited,” Hayes stated while giving
credit to current head football coach Rod Broadway for helping
get him off the golf course and back to work in athletics.
Broadway had known Hayes since his coaching days at WSSU and
had maintained a relationship over the years.
“Coach Broadway called me two or three times a week,” Hayes
stated. “He wasn’t interested in Xs and Os, he
wanted to know about building a program. As I thought about
all this free advice I was giving I decided to pursue this
opportunity.”
Hayes was selected from 30 candidates and was the top choice
of five finalists. He has accepted a three-year contract paying
$110,000 per year and is set to begin working on July 1.
During his introduction, Hayes was presented with a maroon
NCCU blazer by Chancellor Ammons who stated that he wanted
to help Hayes move “from the sideline to the front office”.
And Hayes left no doubt that his focus would be on developing
resources for the athletic program.
“We want to have a top-notch academic experience, increase
our graduation rates and win some championships,” he
stated. “I want to give our coaches everything they need
to win.”
“I want to become a power in the CIAA and then we’re
gonna leave,” he stated in an obvious reference to the
school’s rumored pursuit of Division I status.
“I think he is the right man for the job,” said
Ammons. “He was a strong candidate with a winning attitude.
I believe that he has the ability to develop a top notch athletic
program for his alma mater.”
