After serving as Warhill High’s head basketball coach for the past eight seasons, Justin Hayes announced his resignation from the position Wednesday.
Hayes, the only varsity boys basketball coach in Warhill history, felt he needed to focus his attention on his 6-year-old son and 3-year-old daughter.
The Warhill boys basketball team struggled during its inaugural campaign, going 1-21 during the 2008 season. One of Hayes’ fondest memories is turning the program around the following season with no seniors on the roster.
“The very next season we went 17-9, and I was Coach of the Year,” he said. “It was a huge turnaround the next year with the same kids. One of my best memories is when we won a semifinal game to go to the district championship over in New Kent.”
Hayes, a physical education teacher at Toano Middle School, said he will continue coaching sprinters for Warhill’s track and field team and will step in to assist the golf team when needed.
Warhill athletic director Dan Mullen, who hired Hayes in 2007, said he was appreciative of all the work Hayes did to start the basketball program.
“He’s been here from the beginning,” Mullen said. “He was instrumental in starting our basketball program. We’ll miss him and we wish him luck.”
The job opening is posted on the Williamsburg-James City County Schools website.
