Chancellor Reaves chooses Bill Hayes as Athletic Director

After a nine-month search to fill the Athletic Director position at Winston-Salem State, Chancellor Reaves announced in late October that former WSSU head football coach Bill Hayes would occupy the vacancy.

I am very happy about Bill coming on as the University's Athletic Director," Reaves said. 

 "I am looking forward to having a good, solid working relationship with him."

Hayes has been associated with college sports for more than 36 years.  Along with a former football coach and three-time CIAA Champion at WSSU for 12 years until 1987, Hayes went on to serve as head coach at NC A&T for 15 years. 

His experience in college athletics expanded to Athletic Director at NC Central for five years, and most recently, he has held that same position at Florida A&M since January 2008. 

"The Tallahassee Democrat" reported that Hayes resigned from his post at FAMU Oct. 3.  His last day at FAMU is set for Dec. 31. 

Hayes will begin his tenure as AD at WSSU Jan. 1, 2010.

"The primary factor [in hiring Hayes] was that he had a lot of experience that was directly related to the job," Reaves said. 

"Along the way, he has established a tremendous track record of outstanding performance.  His experience was the major determining factor."

Hayes agreed to a three-year contract at WSSU, for about $130,000 a year, Reaves said in a recent "Winston-Salem Journal" article.  

Hayes was making a reported $175,000 a year at FAMU.  

Under state law, Hayes is required to give up his retirement stipend from the state of North Carolina before he can begin to receive pay from WSSU.   

"As a former athlete and coach, I have an abiding passion for athletics and the betterment of our young people through sports," Hayes said in a recent WFMY-2 interview.

"Also, having worked at WSSU under the legendary Clarence 'Big House' Gaines years ago,  I have a true appreciation for the great tradition of Rams' sports."

Hayes could not be reached for comment by The News Argus at press time.

Reaves said the earliest situation Hayes must address in his new position will be the transition to remain in Division-II.

"That's the major activity going on in athletics right now," Reaves said. 

"I feel very good about the fact that I have an experienced athletic director at the helm there."

Upon making his selection, Reaves also took into account Hayes' relationship with the Winston-Salem area.  In addition to his connection with WSSU, Hayes also served as an assistant football coach at Wake Forest University for three seasons, from 1973-1975 en route to becoming the first African-American assistant coach in the Atlantic Coast Conference.

"Obviously, his past experience played a role here," Reaves said. 

"I looked at his ability to interact with the Winston-Salem community, and I certainly took that into consideration.  Members of the community are excited.  I've talked with students. They're excited.  I'm excited." 

Reaves has not yet established a working relationship with Hayes, but he said he expects that Hayes will be a good manager. 

"[I expect] He will run a solid program, that he will run a clean program, and that he will run a program that operates in the best interest of our student athletes," Reaves said. 

"I do want to compete and I want him to be competitive.  We'll be in a different league.  We'll be in the CIAA, but I want a competitive athletic program, and he and I have talked about that."