Bill Hays coached in the state of Washington from 1957 to 1989, leaving a lasting mark across multiple sports. At St. John, he led the football program for over 14 years, compiling a remarkable 110-15-1 record and achieving a streak of 37 consecutive wins from 1965 to 1968. On the basketball court, his coaching prowess became even more evident. In 15 years, Bill guided his teams to 11 state tournament appearances, including four state championships, one runner-up finish, and four third-place finishes. While at St. John, he also served as the track coach.

Bill later coached at Newport from 1974 to 1989. As the boys’ head basketball coach for three years, his teams went 25-20, while as the girls’ head coach for 11 years, they achieved a 169-81 record with seven state tournament appearances. He also co-headed the boys’ and girls’ track teams during his tenure at Newport. In 1983, he was nominated for National Girls Track Coach of the Year by the National High School Athletic Coaches Association. Bill’s success was often attributed to his emphasis on discipline and fundamentals. In recognition of his achievements, he was inducted into the Washington Inland Empire Hall of Fame in 1989 and the Washington State Basketball Coaches Hall of Fame in 1990.