A coach’s dream

Hayes, a Thomas Stone graduate is now aiming at goals in the professional ranks

Friday, Sept. 5, 2008

Click here to enlarge this photo Photo by RON HOLT Thomas Stone graduate David Hayes has scored 25 career goals and added 25 assists in his nine-year pro career. E-Mail This Article | Print This Story

Those are just some of the assets that former SMAC soccer standout David Hayes had in his repertoire as a premier forward. At 8 years old, Hayes entered the soccer scene and discovered that no days off leads to success.

David Hayes, a 1994 graduate of Thomas Stone High School, did not become a special player with just those assets. What made him a one of the greatest goal scorers in Southern Maryland was his vision and decisiveness. Hayes made a career out of frustrating opponents every night on the soccer field.

At Thomas Stone, Hayes still holds records for goals in a season with 48 as a junior and for a career with 121 goals. In his four-year career, the former Cougar received first-team All-SMAC honors four times and notably became one of the best soccer talents in the state.

‘‘My mindset growing up was always scoring goals and helping the team win every game,” Hayes said.

Even though Hayes is away from the SMAC scene he still looks to give the athletes of today great advice on achieving success.

‘‘You have to strive to be the best you can in soccer and just put a lot of time in on the field to become a great player,” Hayes added.

Thomas Stone head boys soccer coach Tom Parker was a great asset to Hayes in his high school career and remembers some great moments.

‘‘I remember when David scored five goals against the defending champs of Howard High School in Columbia,” Parker said. ‘‘It was just an amazing performance.”

Parker added: ‘‘The day before the game David had torn up shoes and one of his team member’s mother owned a Soccer Plus shop, so she gave him some screw-in soccer shoes that he never had in his life. To go out there in that game and play with the passion and determination that he showed was special. That game is when I knew David would turn out to become a great soccer player.”

During his high school career Hayes admired Parker’s great coaching ability and mentioned how he was such a great teacher of the game.

‘‘Coach Parker molded me to be a great soccer player on and off the field and I became a better person because of it,” Hayes said.

Education was always an important aspect in Hayes’ life, because he knew that it would build a greater foundation for the future. He mentioned that education is always important, because it matters what school you go to.

‘‘I wish I could have focused more on my education, because I could’ve had bigger opportunities, at a wide number of schools,” Hayes said.

After a dominant high school career, Hayes attended Charles County Community College, now known today as the College of Southern Maryland, in 1995-96 and continued to grow as a soccer icon in the area. Hayes was the team captain of the Hawks, which went to the national postseason tournament both seasons.

The former Hawk was also selected first team All-American for those seasons, along with setting the national scoring record in 1996 with 53 goals, and ending a junior college campaign with 104 goals scored.

In 1997, Hayes transferred to Wingate University in North Carolina, a NCAA Division II powerhouse in soccer. The former Bulldog continued to reach new levels, breaking the school scoring record with 78 goals in two seasons, and receiving All-American honors in 1998.

Hayes graduated in 1998 with a degree in communications and loved the experience of playing at the college level.

‘‘It was a great experience,” he said. ‘‘The level of competition was so intense on the field and it was a lot of skilled players in the nation that I faced.”

With his quickness and sheer strength between the soccer lines, Hayes caught the eye of many professional soccer scouts in the world.

Now, Hayes plays professional soccer for the Atlanta Silverbacks in the United Soccer League’s first division as a defender.

Hayes, who was drafted in February 1999 by the Los Angeles Galaxy of Major League Soccer with the 28th pick in the third round, has played for seven different pro soccer teams.

The Silverback even played with the D.C. United for 10 games that year and appeared on the MLS’ pro 40, which consists of the best college players in the country who play together on a national team that competes for the World Cup.

In 2007, Hayes was named USL1 defender of the year, becoming the first Silverback to receive the honor.

The pro standout has scored 25 career goals and dished out 25 assists in his nine-year career.

Other than soccer, Hayes, 32, likes to enjoy other hobbies such as golfing, boating, playing poker, and spending time with family.

The soccer phenom enjoys the life in Atlanta and wants to help the youth with their skills on the field.

‘‘We have a new stadium,” Hayes said. ‘‘It’s always good to play in that type of atmosphere, especially when you are representing the United States. I coach five youth clubs teams here and some day I would like to coach at the professional level.”

Hayes has always been dedicated, putting hours and hours of training in on the soccer gridiron and uses preparation as a motive.

‘‘Before the games I like to eat lo mein and teriyaki chicken, and when working out I take other moves from different soccer players to improve my skills,” Hayes said.