FAMU Athletic Director Bill Hayes told the Winston Salem Journal Newspaper, Tuesday, that he is enjoying being our athletic director.
Many folks move to Florida late in life to retire, but not Hayes.
On the job since January, the 65 year-old Hayes is full of energy, and ideas, as he works tirelessly to rebuild the Rattler athletic program. He spends about 60% of his time raising money, and working to upgrade FAMU's aging facilities for student-athletes and coaches.
One of his first task, even before "officially" starting the job was helping to recruit new FAMU football coach Joe Taylor, away from Hampton.
Hayes spent five successful years at North Carolina Central University before coming to FAMU.
One thing Hayes learned before becoming an administrator is what a head coach needs to be successful.
Hayes, a former football coach, holds the all-time win record as head coach at Winston Salem State University and North Carolina A&T State.
"It's been unbelievable since I started," Hayes said. "It's been a steady grind and some long days, including most weekends, to try and get this program jump-started again."
Hayes says that there's no one reason he left his native Durham, although he did get a raise of about $65,000 a year (he's paid $175,000 a year). It was the challenge that attracted him to A&M, a tradition-rich football school.
Hayes says he remembers some of his friends saying he wouldn't last two minutes in athletics administration. Now, he relishes the chance to raise funds to help the athletics department grow. He shook more hands than a mayoral candidate before last week's football game.
"I've been trying to figure out what I would do if I retired," Hayes said. "That's my biggest problem -- I just can't seem to get it together to look into retirement. I enjoy working with people and building programs, and I think I'm pretty good with it, and people seem to respond to me."
Hayes is in the WSSU, N.C. Central and CIAA halls of fame and could one day make the N.C. A&T Hall of Fame.
And despite a messy separation, he refuses to bad-mouth A&T.
"I found out long ago, holding grudges in this game doesn't do anybody any good," Hayes said.
"I couldn't believe I was considering coming to Florida during this time in my life," Hayes said. "But I agreed to do it, and I'm happy with the way things have gone. It's a challenge, and it's opportunity, so I'm embracing it and just going with it."
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Hayes and Ammons is full of s--t.Hayes is not an athletic director, he doesn't have a clue.He saw an opportunity and took
ReplyDeleteadvantage of FAMU.It seems like FAMU is always paying high salaries to rejects,how can you pay a coach $225,000, an athletic director $175,00 when the athletic program is 4 million dollars in the hole.Coach Taylor salary at Hampton was $95,000, and Hayes salary at NCCU was right at $100,000.FAMU do the math, that why you can't progress.
It's apalling hat we pay a relic and underachiever this type of money. All that money and athletics has probably the worse website in the NCAA. What's his plan of action for that? Where is FAMU Athletics marketing????
ReplyDeleteTo ask Hayes.....well.....he'd have to ask someone else. Hayes never has any plans he implements, and sits idle in meetings waiting for staff and coaches to come up with ALL the ideas. Sending my money to FAMU is such a waste, because it goes to ideologies such as this whereas an institution hires people, give them ridiculous raises and salaries, have NO EXPECTATION of achievement and no accountability.
I guess the more things change.....the more they stay the same. We got rid of Castell's highly paid/do-nothing staff for Ammons's.
I must say as a younger person this just makes me say WTF? At 65 he should be home letting someone else,with energy that is real and ideas from this century have a chance at a job. Dr. Ammons, whom I support has really thrown me for a loop with certain hires. Now, in all honesty I will give it three years and see where we are with our 68 year AD and Booster "leader" MC.
ReplyDeleteThe website should be improved immediately and the marketing needs to be increased. However, Hayes is doing a pretty good job. he has a lot of obstacles to overcome because FAMU is in such a big financial hole. He will turn things around.
ReplyDeleteAthletic marketing, what marketing?
ReplyDeleteAgain, IF we have suggestions and resources to solve some of the issues and problems that FAMU may have. Before we get all caught up in the foolishness of JUDGING poeple, we must ask questions aimed at fixing things which may be a problem. I love FAMU and I'll do what I can to help.
ReplyDeleteRudy Hubbard would have been a much better selection than Bill Hayes.
ReplyDeleteI totally agree with most of the comments on this blog. Hayes is a rude, arrogant, opportunist! I too support Dr. Ammons but again some of his hiring decisions are shady and questionable. Hayes has no new ideas, he is a bully! Many in the community informed me that they do not and will not give/donate to FAMU (Athletics) because they have an unpleasant interaction with Hayes. That is why FAMU has had a hard time getting the 1000 strikes. Hayes does not fit the innovative trajectory FAMU should be taking at this time. He has incited hate and discord since he has been the AD. This is not NCCU or NC A&T and the sooner he gets that fact, the better!
ReplyDelete3:51 pm
ReplyDelete"However, Hayes is doing a pretty good job...."
He's doing a good job at what?????? The 1000 strikes campaign is a piss-poor campaign at best. He obviously gives NO guidance to his development and fundraising officers. Their lack of knowledge (in the actual areas that WE PAY FOR) coupled with his will equal another unsuccessful campaign that FAMU will have to deal with.
5:22 pm
"Again, IF we have suggestions and resources to solve some of the issues and problems that FAMU may have...."
I have a suggestion.... Stop hiring incompetent staff and faculty and put in (and ENFORCE) measurable goals for which people can be held accountable for. Stop ONLY looking at the MEAC and other conferences that cater to HBCU's as your talent pool for hiring! There are tons of other AD's more knowledgeable, more qualified, more competent, more driven and MORE INSPIRING than Hayes is now, has EVER BEEN and ever will be........that don't make his ridiculous salary.
If we are going to spend money like this, go out and get the best. Don't give a mediocre person excellent pay thinking that will inspire them to excel. Mediocre people are just that.....MEDIOCRE. They have a history of NOT excelling and just being average.
Can someone tell me what about Hayes equals a $175,000. Please.......im waiting anxiously.
I don't know who told Hayes to wear those short shorts, but he looks a hot ghetto mess. At his age, AD or not, he needs to put on some to-the-knee-shorts. He's tired and needs to go on somewhere and let someone younger come in and do what he was hired to do but is not doing. What does he know, and when has he not known what it is he doesn't know and won't ever know? While Dr. Ammons has done some great and wonderful things for the good of the university since coming "home," hiring Hayes -- and paying him this much $$ -- isn't one of them. I know, I know. Plenty other ADs across thenation pay their ADs a whole lot more. Well, I don't hitnk we can afford to be paying this man all that money, which, of course, is small in comparison to say, well, schools of comparable sizes. Btu if we can't afford to do that, then why would James Ammons do such a thing -- especially, when there are other pressing needs at the university. I know that athletics are most often the lifeblood of a university, but I think we can do better. We MUST do better. This is the 21st century. When do we start to do better??
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