DURHAM, N.C. – Legendary student-athlete, coach and athletics administrator William “Bill” Hayes was presented with the North Carolina Central University Department of Athletics Lifetime Achievement Award on Saturday (Feb. 6) during halftime of the men’s basketball game between NCCU and North Carolina A&T State University inside McDougald-McLendon Arena.

Hayes has made significant contributions to both NCCU and North Carolina A&T during his illustrious career. He grew up in Durham, just a few blocks from NCCU, where he played four seasons as a linebacker and center for the Eagles. He earned three All-America citations (1962-64, Pittsburgh Courier) before graduating in 1965 with a degree in physical education.

During his 27 seasons as head coach at Winston-Salem State University (1976-87) and N.C. A&T State (1988-2002), Hayes amassed 195 wins to go along with six conference championships.

Prior to becoming a college head coach, he coached on the high school level in North Carolina at Paisley High School (1966), North Forsyth High School (1967-71) and his alma mater Hillside High School (1972), before accepting his first college job as offensive backs coach at Wake Forest University (1973-75), making him the first African-American coach in the Atlantic Coast Conference.

After his coaching career, Hayes returned to NCCU to serve as Director of Athletics from 2003-07. Under his direction, NCCU won 10 conference championships and he was chosen as the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) Athletics Director of the Year in 2006 and was presented with the Jeanette A. Lee Athletic Administration Award, recognizing the conference's top athletic administrator, in 2007.

Hayes has been inducted into the NCCU Alex M. Rivera Athletic Hall of Fame, the Winston-Salem State University Clarence E. "Big House" Gaines Athletic Hall of Fame, the North Carolina A&T State University Sports Hall of Fame, the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association Hall of Fame and the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Hall of Fame.

This prestigious award was first bestowed upon longtime NCCU photographer Robert Lawson in May 2014.  Saturday is only the second time this honor recognizing distinguished service and achievement has been presented.