SCACA Honors Late Wando Icon Bob Hayes

Press Release

The South Carolina Athletic Coaches Association (SCACA) recently announced that Bob Hayes (right), former athletic director and football coach at Wando High School, has been posthumously elected to the SCACA Hall of Fame. He will be inducted with the rest of the Class of 2021 on July 25, 2021, during the SCACA’s Annual Awards Ceremony at the Greenville Convention Center.

Hayes passed away at the age of 60 last June.

“Bob Hayes was a pillar of the CCSD community and the South Carolina High  School League but especially the Wando High School Community – our students, our athletes, our faculty and staff,” said Wando’s principal, Dr. Sherry Eppelsheimer. “It is impossible to describe how much he meant to all of us. I am fortunate to have had the opportunity to work with Bob for 13 years and call him a true friend. He stood for all that is great about our school: commitment to students, athletes, family, and staff along with a dedication to excellence and an  amazing work ethic.”

Hayes graduated from Coral Cables High School in Coral Gables, FL, then came to the Palmetto State to play football at Furman University. After graduating college,  he spent 37 years in the coaching profession, including 33 in the Lowcountry, first at Stratford High School then the last 20 years at Wando High School. He served as the Warrior’s athletic director from 2000-2020 and the head football coach from 2000-2009.

During Coach Hayes’ tenure at Wando, the Warriors captured 53 state championships in various sports and seven Carlisle Cups (which recognizes the state’s most successful athletic program). He was an assistant coach at both the North-South All-Star Game and the Shrine Bowl, and won many other accolades  including SCACA Athletic Director of the Year in 2017-18.

Hayes was a 33-year member of the South Carolina Athletic Coaches Association, and a 13-year member of the Board of Directors, serving as president of the association in 2007-08. He was also a 20-year member of the South Carolina  Athletic Administrators Association.

In May of 2020, Charleston County School District (CCSD) and its Board of  Trustees honored Coach Hayes by naming the field at the District 2 Regional  Stadium, built on Wando’s campus, “Robert E Hayes Field” in recognition of his  dedication to the high school, the Mount Pleasant community, CCSD, and South  Carolina.

“Bob participated in countless meetings as we worked through the planning,  design, and construction of the District 2 Stadium,” added Dr. Eppelsheimer. “I am thankful the field at the District 2 Regional Stadium bears his name so everyone will know about his legacy and contributions to Wando. We lost a good man too  soon, but we’ll continue to celebrate his legacy.”

Four other coaches will be honored as Hall of Fame inductees at the 2021 SCACA banquet including Dr. Jerry Brown, Delmer Howell, Mike Srock, and James “Nate” Thompson.

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