Heathwood Hall's Coach Daye to retire
Contributed by Heathwood Hall Episcopal School

Heathwood Hall Head Coach John Daye is the winningest coach in school history.

John Daye, head coach of the Heathwood Hall Highlanders and one of the state's most successful and experienced high school football coaches, has announced his retirement effective at the end of the 2007 season.

"This fall marks my 30th season as a head coach," said Daye. "Over that time, I have been privileged to have worked with exceptional players and assistant coaches at some wonderful schools, including here at Heathwood. Most of my coaching career has been spent here in the Midlands area, and I am extremely fortunate to have been a part of high school athletics for all of these years. I look forward in retirement to pursuing some interests that I have cultivated over the years and to spending more time with my wife Debbie and our family."

Daye took over the Heathwood program in 1996, leading the Highlanders to SCISA 3A state championships in 2001 and 2004, and runner- up finishes in 1999 and 2003. Through the 2006 campaign, his 85-43 record and 11 seasons at Heathwood already counted as the most wins and longest tenure for any football coach in school history.

His overall record for 319 games and 29 plus seasons, many of them with public school programs, is now 175- 142- 2 for a .550 winning percentage. His high school head coaching career began in 1965 at Chesterfield and later included successful head coaching stints at Columbia, Orangeburg- Wilkenson, and Brookland- Cayce high schools. He led each of those football programs to the playoffs, taking nine different teams into post season play, winning a region 4A championship, region runner- up crown, and two state runner- up trophies. His first state championships came at Heathwood Hall.

"Coach Daye has done much more for Heathwood and our athletic program than win football games," said Steve Hickman, Head of School. "He has consistently represented himself and our school with dignity, integrity and impeccable sportsmanship, and he has inspired his players to achieve things they may have thought were impossible, helping them learn life- long lessons about teamwork, sacrifice, commitment, and self- discipline."