William "Bill" Hayes confirmed as FAMU new athletic director

by beepbeep

Florida A&M University Board of Trustees confirmed William "Bill" Hayes as the new athletic director of the Rattlers athletic programs. Hayes was given a three year contract at $175,000 annually to replace Nelson Townsend who was forced out by FAMU president Dr. James Ammons.

Townsend resignation calls for him to be on paid administrative leave until February 12, 2008. His counter-part, the fired (November 20) football coach Rubin Carter is also on the FAMU payroll until April 22, 2008, with two years and three months totally over $260,000 to be finalized in his separation package. All of Carter's assistants were also terminated, effective January 2008.

Dr. Ammons has his sights set on hiring Grambling State University coach Rod Broadway who has a 74 percent career winning percentage. This announcement is forthcoming on or about December 17, after the SWAC Football Championship game scheduled in Birmingham on December 15.

It's no secret that Hayes, Broadway and Ammons are a championship combination that are expected to take the Rattlers to the upper echelon of the Football Championship Subdivision. They did so at formerly division II, North Carolina Central University in three years and are expected to exceed this level of performance at FAMU.

So, get your checks ready and fasten your seat belts as the Rattlers are definitely on an expedited move to the championship sports mountain top. Bill Hayes is a proven winner and an exceptional sports administrator that can successfully carry out Dr. Ammons championship vision for FAMU sports. We ask only one thing of our visionary leader--please put a succession plan in place for the day that Hayes steps down. This is an excellent opportunity to mentor the next young FAMU athletic director under Hayes tutelage and the opportunity should not be missed.

We expect the Rattlers will provide a contract worth $175,000 to $200,000 annually to sign Broadway--considerably more than the $130,000 that Rubin Carter received annually to deliver a 16-17 record to Florida A&M. Based on falling attendance figures, Coach Broadway and Hayes are worth every penny to consistently sellout Bragg Memorial Stadium and the new ten thousand seat teaching arena.

Congratulations to Dr. Ammons for making the right move to fix this systemic problem with athletic administration.