Hayes, Dailey Honored as Wake Forest’s ACC UNITE Award Recipients
10/16/2024 3:58:00 PM | Football, General, Women's Golf
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. -- The Atlantic Coast Conference has announced the winners of the fourth-annual ACC UNITE Award, which was created to honor individuals affiliated with the league who have made an impact in the areas of racial and social justice. Bill Hayes (football and community legend) and Dianne Dailey (women's golf and Athletics leadership) are the Demon Deacons' two honorees this year, as their respective careers personify the Pro Humanitate motto of Wake Forest University and they mentored, coached and helped thousands of student-athletes.
The UNITE Award is an initiative of the ACC's Committee for Racial and Social Justice (CORE - Champions of Racial Equity) and was developed and approved by its member institutions. C.O.R.E was created in June 2020 to support the ACC's commitment to social justice and racial equity. Members of C.O.R.E. include conference office staff members and campus representatives from each of the league's institutions. C.O.R.E.'s mission is to promote and encourage inclusion, racial equity and social justice through education, partnerships, engagement and advocacy.
The UNITE Award is presented annually to individuals who:
Coach Bill Hayes, whose trailblazing career has inspired many, was recognized prior to and during the Demon Deacons' Week 1 game against North Carolina A&T on Thursday, Aug. 29 inside Allegacy Stadium. Hayes, who served as Wake Forest's running back coach from 1973 to 1975, was a groundbreaking figure in the ACC and set a precedent for diversity and excellence in college football.
After his time at Wake Forest where he was the first Black assistant coach in our University's history as well as the first in the Atlantic Coast Conference, Hayes became the head coach at Winston-Salem State University (1976-87), where he led the Rams to three Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) championships and five CIAA divisional titles. His leadership was instrumental in taking his 1978 team to the NCAA Division II playoffs. Following his tenure at Winston-Salem State, Hayes served as head coach at North Carolina A&T (1988-2002), guiding the Aggies to two NCAA Division I-AA playoff appearances and winning three Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) titles.
He is the second winningest football coach in the state of North Carolina's collegiate history.
Hayes' career also includes a distinguished role in athletic administration, where he served as athletic director at North Carolina Central, Florida A&M, and Winston-Salem State University. Under his leadership, WSSU achieved significant success, including a national championship game appearance in 2012.
In recognition of his contributions, Hayes was awarded the 2019 AFCA Trailblazer Award, honoring his role as an early leader in the football coaching profession at historically Black colleges and universities. Additionally, a statue in his honor is set to be unveiled at Winston-Salem State University, celebrating his legacy and impact.
Not to be outdone, the field at Bowman Gray Stadium was named in his honor a few years ago.
Coach Hayes's achievements not only reflect his outstanding career but also his commitment to advancing opportunities for others.
Dianne Dailey, Women's Golf & Athletics Leadership
Legendary Wake Forest administrator and head women's golf coach Dianne Dailey was named a Medallion of Merit honoree by Wake Forest University in Feb. 2024. The Medallion of Merit is the highest honor given by Wake Forest and is presented annually for outstanding achievement and distinguished contribution to the University. Previous recipients include presidents of the University, trustees, benefactors and retired faculty and administrators.
Dailey retired as head coach of the women's golf program in the spring of 2018, after a stellar 30-year career, earning a spot in the National Golf Coaches Association Hall of Fame and launching the careers of a stream of alumni who became professional golfers. Additionally, she was inducted into the Wake Forest Sports Hall of Fame in 2021.
In 1988, Dr. Gene Hooks named Dailey the director of women's athletics in addition to being the head women's golf coach at Wake Forest. She replaced Dot Casey who had retired after 14 years as the women's athletic director and took over the golf program from Mary Beth McGirr. Dailey was the first full-time athletic department staff member to serve in either role, and served the dual positions until 1999 when she relinquished the athletic director role in order to focus on coaching the golf team.
Her 30-year tenure as a head coach is the second-longest in school history behind only Jesse Haddock's 32 seasons. During that transformational tenure, she led the Demon Deacons to 30 team titles and 38 individual titles. Dianne's women's golf program won four ACC Championships and she led the Deacons to 15 NCAA Championships while being recognized with four ACC Coach of the Year honors.
Individually during her tenure, Dailey coached 27 All-Americans, 39 All-ACC selections, five ACC Players of the Year and four ACC Freshmen of the Year including 2018 NCAA Champion Jennifer Kupcho. Dailey's five ACC Players of the Year were two-time winner Stephanie Neill Harner ('95), Laura Philo Diaz ('97), Nuria Clau ('03) and Natalie Sheary ('11).
Dailey led the Deacons to ACC titles in 1994, 1995, 2009 and 2010 while taking the club to an NCAA regional berth every year from 1993 to 2018.
One of the biggest impacts Dailey made was listening to the student-athletes off the course. She met them where they were and was able to adjust to how they learned best. She was able to maintain her long-standing success by changing teaching techniques with the times and technology.
What Dailey has always found special about Wake Forest was the very supportive environment the student-athletes had. Everyone helps them work toward their goals and be successful. She was also able to push the program forward with the world class facilities, the best on-campus facility in the country, which dons her name at the Dianne Dailey Learning Center.
A 1971 graduate of Salem College with a master's degree in education from N.C. State University, she also played golf professionally for eight years before coming to Wake Forest to coach in 1988. The program's state-of-the-art Dianne Dailey Learning Center was named for her.
About the ACC
The Atlantic Coast Conference, in its 72nd year and 18 members strong, stands as one of the most competitive and revered intercollegiate conferences in the nation. ACC members including Boston College, Cal, Clemson, Duke, Florida State, Georgia Tech, Louisville, Miami, North Carolina, NC State, Notre Dame, Pitt, SMU, Stanford, Syracuse, Virginia, Virginia Tech, and Wake Forest are dedicated to upholding the league's founding values of academic excellence, athletic competition at the highest level, and integrity. The ACC supports 28 NCAA sports, with 15 for women and 13 for men, and its member institutions span 12 states. In August 2019, the ACC and ESPN partnered to launch ACC Network (ACCN), a 24/7 national network exclusively devoted to ACC sports and original programming. For more information, visit theACC.com and follow the ACC on Instagram (@accsports), Twitter/X (@theACC) and Facebook (facebook.com/theACC).
The UNITE Award is an initiative of the ACC's Committee for Racial and Social Justice (CORE - Champions of Racial Equity) and was developed and approved by its member institutions. C.O.R.E was created in June 2020 to support the ACC's commitment to social justice and racial equity. Members of C.O.R.E. include conference office staff members and campus representatives from each of the league's institutions. C.O.R.E.'s mission is to promote and encourage inclusion, racial equity and social justice through education, partnerships, engagement and advocacy.
The UNITE Award is presented annually to individuals who:
- Best exemplify ACC CORE's mission to promote and encourage racial equity and social justice through education, partnerships, engagement and advocacy;
- Have helped create meaningful, lasting change by improving systems, organizational structures, policies, practices and attitudes;
- Have been a pioneer and/or helped pave the way for minorities either at the institution or in the community.
- 2021:
- Each school honored its first male and female Black student-athletes to enroll at their respective University.
- Wake Forest's honorees were Robert Grant and Kenneth "Butch" Henry (1964, football), and Keeva Jackson and Sonya Henderson (1981, women's basketball).
- Specifically, Grant and Henry were the first Black football student-athletes to enroll at a Division I institution in the South.
- 2022:
- 2023:
- Bill Hayes:
- "I am deeply honored to receive the ACC UNITE Award and to stand alongside so many champions of equality and justice. My journey as a coach and leader was shaped by a commitment to making a difference, not only on the field but in the lives of young men and women. The opportunities I was given, and those I helped create, have always been about building a better future, and I am proud of the legacy we've established in the name of progress and unity."
- Dianne Dailey:
- "I am honored to be recognized with the ACC Unite Award. It has been a privilege to work with so many dedicated and inspired female athletes and coaches who laid the foundation for our successful programs today. Without their contributions, we would not be winning national championships and ACC titles. I am grateful to Wake Forest for providing me the opportunity to spend my entire career here and for supporting our efforts to build a strong and vibrant women's athletic program, as well as a competitive women's golf program. Through the work of many folks, we have developed a reputation of graduating talented, competent and confident young women who have excelled in their sport, in their careers and in life."
- Vice President & Director of Athletics John Currie:
- "As a charter member of the Atlantic Coast Conference, Wake Forest University is honored to recognize Bill Hayes and Dianne Dailey as recipients of the ACC UNITE Award. Both Bill and Dianne have been pillars of excellence, leadership, and integrity throughout their careers. Their impact on Wake Forest and the broader athletic community embodies our Pro Humanitate motto, and their commitment to advancing opportunities for others has left a lasting legacy. We are grateful for their trailblazing contributions and celebrate their enduring influence on our student-athletes and community."
Coach Bill Hayes, whose trailblazing career has inspired many, was recognized prior to and during the Demon Deacons' Week 1 game against North Carolina A&T on Thursday, Aug. 29 inside Allegacy Stadium. Hayes, who served as Wake Forest's running back coach from 1973 to 1975, was a groundbreaking figure in the ACC and set a precedent for diversity and excellence in college football.
After his time at Wake Forest where he was the first Black assistant coach in our University's history as well as the first in the Atlantic Coast Conference, Hayes became the head coach at Winston-Salem State University (1976-87), where he led the Rams to three Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) championships and five CIAA divisional titles. His leadership was instrumental in taking his 1978 team to the NCAA Division II playoffs. Following his tenure at Winston-Salem State, Hayes served as head coach at North Carolina A&T (1988-2002), guiding the Aggies to two NCAA Division I-AA playoff appearances and winning three Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) titles.
He is the second winningest football coach in the state of North Carolina's collegiate history.
Hayes' career also includes a distinguished role in athletic administration, where he served as athletic director at North Carolina Central, Florida A&M, and Winston-Salem State University. Under his leadership, WSSU achieved significant success, including a national championship game appearance in 2012.
In recognition of his contributions, Hayes was awarded the 2019 AFCA Trailblazer Award, honoring his role as an early leader in the football coaching profession at historically Black colleges and universities. Additionally, a statue in his honor is set to be unveiled at Winston-Salem State University, celebrating his legacy and impact.
Not to be outdone, the field at Bowman Gray Stadium was named in his honor a few years ago.
Coach Hayes's achievements not only reflect his outstanding career but also his commitment to advancing opportunities for others.
Dianne Dailey, Women's Golf & Athletics Leadership
Legendary Wake Forest administrator and head women's golf coach Dianne Dailey was named a Medallion of Merit honoree by Wake Forest University in Feb. 2024. The Medallion of Merit is the highest honor given by Wake Forest and is presented annually for outstanding achievement and distinguished contribution to the University. Previous recipients include presidents of the University, trustees, benefactors and retired faculty and administrators.
Dailey retired as head coach of the women's golf program in the spring of 2018, after a stellar 30-year career, earning a spot in the National Golf Coaches Association Hall of Fame and launching the careers of a stream of alumni who became professional golfers. Additionally, she was inducted into the Wake Forest Sports Hall of Fame in 2021.
In 1988, Dr. Gene Hooks named Dailey the director of women's athletics in addition to being the head women's golf coach at Wake Forest. She replaced Dot Casey who had retired after 14 years as the women's athletic director and took over the golf program from Mary Beth McGirr. Dailey was the first full-time athletic department staff member to serve in either role, and served the dual positions until 1999 when she relinquished the athletic director role in order to focus on coaching the golf team.
Her 30-year tenure as a head coach is the second-longest in school history behind only Jesse Haddock's 32 seasons. During that transformational tenure, she led the Demon Deacons to 30 team titles and 38 individual titles. Dianne's women's golf program won four ACC Championships and she led the Deacons to 15 NCAA Championships while being recognized with four ACC Coach of the Year honors.
Individually during her tenure, Dailey coached 27 All-Americans, 39 All-ACC selections, five ACC Players of the Year and four ACC Freshmen of the Year including 2018 NCAA Champion Jennifer Kupcho. Dailey's five ACC Players of the Year were two-time winner Stephanie Neill Harner ('95), Laura Philo Diaz ('97), Nuria Clau ('03) and Natalie Sheary ('11).
Dailey led the Deacons to ACC titles in 1994, 1995, 2009 and 2010 while taking the club to an NCAA regional berth every year from 1993 to 2018.
One of the biggest impacts Dailey made was listening to the student-athletes off the course. She met them where they were and was able to adjust to how they learned best. She was able to maintain her long-standing success by changing teaching techniques with the times and technology.
What Dailey has always found special about Wake Forest was the very supportive environment the student-athletes had. Everyone helps them work toward their goals and be successful. She was also able to push the program forward with the world class facilities, the best on-campus facility in the country, which dons her name at the Dianne Dailey Learning Center.
A 1971 graduate of Salem College with a master's degree in education from N.C. State University, she also played golf professionally for eight years before coming to Wake Forest to coach in 1988. The program's state-of-the-art Dianne Dailey Learning Center was named for her.
About the ACC
The Atlantic Coast Conference, in its 72nd year and 18 members strong, stands as one of the most competitive and revered intercollegiate conferences in the nation. ACC members including Boston College, Cal, Clemson, Duke, Florida State, Georgia Tech, Louisville, Miami, North Carolina, NC State, Notre Dame, Pitt, SMU, Stanford, Syracuse, Virginia, Virginia Tech, and Wake Forest are dedicated to upholding the league's founding values of academic excellence, athletic competition at the highest level, and integrity. The ACC supports 28 NCAA sports, with 15 for women and 13 for men, and its member institutions span 12 states. In August 2019, the ACC and ESPN partnered to launch ACC Network (ACCN), a 24/7 national network exclusively devoted to ACC sports and original programming. For more information, visit theACC.com and follow the ACC on Instagram (@accsports), Twitter/X (@theACC) and Facebook (facebook.com/theACC).
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