Guilford County Sports HOF bios on Bill Hayes, Doug Henderson and Haywood Jeffires

William “Bill” Hayes, an alumnus of North Carolina Central University, played four seasons at the football center position, earning three All-America citations before graduating in 1965 with a degree in Physical Education. 

In 1976, Hayes became the head football coach at Winston-Salem State University.  During his 12 seasons at WSSU, the Rams captured three CIAA Championships (1977, 1978 and 1987), including back-to-back undefeated regular season marks in 1977 and 1978.  He posted an overall record of 89-40-2. 

In 1988, Hayes was hired at North Carolina A & T State University, where he guided the Aggies to three MEAC titles, two NCAA Division I-AA playoff appearances and an overall record of 106-64-0 in 15 seasons.  During his 27 year career as a collegiate head coach, Hayes accumulated a 195-104-2 overall record; establishing himself as the winningest coach at both Winston-Salem State and North Carolina A & T.  Hayes has more career victories (195) than any other college football head coach in the state of North Carolina. Hayes is currently the Athletic Director at Florida A&M University.

William Douglas “Doug” Henderson, Sr. coached Western Guilford to the 1977 NC 3-A State Football Championship with a 26-20 win over South Caldwell. Coach Henderson was the Head Football Coach and Athletic Director from 1972 to 1989 at Western Guilford and also served as the Head Track Coach.

In 1977, Henderson was named Head Coach of the North-South All-Star Game and the Kellogg Coach of the Year. He won 6 conference titles at Western Guilford and was also the Triad 3-A Coach of the Year in 1977. In 1978, Coach Henderson received the prestigious honor of being named the North Carolina Head Coach of the Shrine Bowl and coached the East-West All-Star Game in 1980.

The Ellerbe native and UNC graduate amassed over 216 football wins against 101 losses and 5 ties in his career which took him on stops to Shallotte High, Elizabethtown High, and East Bladen High School before he arrived at Western Guilford. Henderson was a founder of the NC Football Coaches Association in 1988 and served as President of the NC Coaches Association in 1986 and Executive Secretary from 1988-2003. Doug Henderson and his wife Doris currently reside in Greensboro.

Haywood Franklin Jeffires (born December 12, 1964 in Greensboro, North Carolina) is a former NFL football player who was selected by the Houston Oilers in the 1st round (20th overall) of the 1987 NFL Draft out of North Carolina State University. A 6’2″, 198 lb. wide receiver, Jeffires played in 10 NFL seasons from 1987-1996. A 3-time Pro Bowl selection from 1991-1993, Jeffires led the AFC in receptions in 1991 with 100.

Jeffires participated in basketball, football, and track at Page High School. In his senior year, the Pirate football team was 12-2 and lost in the State Finals to Jacksonville 15-6. During that season, Jeffires caught 27 passes for 500 yards. Jeffires and the Page Pirates won the 4-A State Basketball Championship in 1983 defeating Goldsboro 73-55 in the Greensboro Coliseum where he was named MVP of the Western Regional and State Championship Games.

As of 2008 Jeffires is coaching the Bay Area Gamblers, a semi-pro football team in Pearland, Texas.

5 thoughts on “Guilford County Sports HOF bios on Bill Hayes, Doug Henderson and Haywood Jeffires

  1. Coach Henderson won many games while at Western Guilford. The things I remember him for were, teaching us to play as a team, and making the best with what we had. He was able to make believers out of us! He won all those games with home grown students and no transfers! The football stadium should wear his name.

    “DOUG HENDERSON FOOTBALL STADIUM”

  2. I played for coach Henderson at Western. The main thing I learned from him was how to act with class and respect towards your opponent! The current coach ( who also played with me at Western) does not stress that at all!! I don’t think Coach Henderson would allow his name to be disrespected with the thuggish acts that they now display before games and during! I would love for Coach Henderson’s name to be on that stadium but only after they clean up their act.

  3. Anyone remember those enormous cookouts Haywood Jeffries would hold at his parents’ home off Lee Street? Cars in the median for 1/2 a mile and for years, there was no problems (fighting or even cursing etc.). Just a nice gesture by Haywood and his family to offer free food and music to the community.

  4. I played football and ran track for Coach Henderson-he stressed preperation, work ethic & fair play which when combined lead to the opportunity to suceed or win. But in my opinion & experiences with him, the advantage he had over other coaches is that he was a prolific motivator that could tell you why, where, when something was going to happen & why you were going to be an important part of that scenario. He truly cared about his athletes and wanted us to win for us. He has touched so many lives in so many positive ways; don’t be fooled that he was “just a high school coach”.

  5. I was the football manager under Coach Henderson in 1983-1984. Just wanted to say that that was a great time and Coach was a great man. He was tough on the guys but that made them great players. He deserves all respect in the world!!!

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