Darwin Semotiuk
Former Director of Sports and Recreation Services, Former Football Coach, Professor
The Western community has lost one its finest citizens with the passing of Doug Hayes. He will be dearly missed by his friends and colleagues at Western, in the London community and across Canada. Through his teaching and coaching, Doug was a positive role model in influencing the students and student-athletes who had the privilege and good fortune to come under his guidance. We are all deeply saddened by this loss and would like to let Lauretta and the children know that our thoughts and prayers are with them. The Hayes family and Western have lost an incredibly fine human being.
Bob Vigars
Head Coach, Cross-Country / Assistant Coach, Track & Field
I go way back with Doug as I arrived here only one year before him, both of us young bucks and full of energy. In our early years as faculty coaches, we would regularly play pick-up basketball during noon hours in Reid Gym. It was usually 2-on-2 with Doug's classmate from UofA Gary Smith who also came to Western with Doug in 1969 as a faculty member and coach and Al Mikalachki, a professor in the Business school.
Being the runt of the litter, Doug always had me as his partner and would give me (a hard time) when I failed to cut after a give as I wanted the glory of the outside pot. Doug taught sports biomechanics, and helped me when I was asked to move into that area as well some 15 years later.
Our most fun was greeting each other in our best imitation of the gruff and guttural voice of our AD John Metras who was a master of malapropisms.
Even up to last year, every time we greeted each other, it was always in a Metras voice followed by a Metras remark such as:
-- "What's the floormat of today's meeting"
-- "Professor erroneous (emeritis) ....... will be speaking today"
Of course there were a lot of other expressions, but you can't print them.
Doug was a somewhat quiet fellow, with a very bright mind, and he he had a wonderful demeanor. In my book, he was "Mr. Easy" - a tall man with a smooth glide in all aspects of his lifestyle.
Natascha Wesch
Head Coach, Women's Rugby
I really enjoyed being around Doug. He was always one of those guys that was nice to everyone and he always asked me how the rugby team was doing.
Gerry Slattery
Assistant Coach, Men's Rugby
Doug had a big part to play in helping to turn the rugby program into a success. He toured with us overseas on several occassions, so we gave him the title of Mr President.
Cecelia Carter-Smith
Hamilton, Ont. - Hamilton Spectator
Tears rolled down my cheeks when i received the release about the passing of Doug Hayes. I have such fond memories of our annual "bench banter" in the basement of the Barrington Hotel in Halifax at the CIS Men's Basketball Championships.
Doug cared about his kids on the court. And each is a richer, better person for having such a fine man as their mentor. Doug Hayes made a difference in the lives of so many.
I can speak personally about the profound impact that Doug had on his "charges." A former student of mine met frequently with "Coach" to confide in him about his personal, academic, and athletic challenges.
I thanked Doug for his interest and impact that he had on that special young man.
Doug Hayes was special, too. He made a huge difference in the lives of so many young people and to so many of us - his contemporaries. We were privileged to walk with him. Thanks for that opportunity, Doug. Safe journey.
Paul Armstrong
Ottawa, Ont. - Senior Development Officer, Recreation & Athletics, Carleton University
So sorry to hear about the loss of Coach Hayes. I coached against him and really got to know him in the mid-80’s when the OBA had a Top 60 and Top 40 program for a couple of years with Tom Kieswetter as the lead coach.
Ken Murray
Brock University Basketball Coach, 1989 - 2010
It was a privilege knowing and coaching against Doug Hayes. He was a true gentleman and did a wonderful job building a very strong Western Mustang Basketball Team. I will miss him but my memories of my time spent with Doug will last forever.
Jim Budge
Whistler, B.C.
The thing I will always appreciate about Doug Hayes is his sense of humor and how he used it as a coaching technique. He kept calisthenics fun by encouraging guest appearances and silly exercises, and his comments during film sessions were hilarious. Doug was one of the guys I was most looking forward to seeing at the 1970 team reunion this weekend. Very sad to hear the news of his passing. I'm sure there will be lots of great Doug Hayes stories being shared.
