Willie Hayes, a former North Central College standout, is named coach at alma mater Lemont. ‘This is my home.’

Willie Hayes knew when he was still a high school football player at Lemont that he wanted to be a coach one day.

And, all along, he knew where he wanted to be.

“Probably around my junior or senior year at Lemont is when I started to realize I wanted to be a teacher and I wanted to be a coach,” Hayes said. “When I graduated from Lemont, I was like, ‘I need to get back here,’”

Hayes returned to his alma mater as an assistant coach in 2012. After 11 seasons on the staff, he’s been named Lemont’s new head coach, replacing the retiring Bret Kooi.

“It’s a dream come true, to be honest with you,” Hayes said. “I’ve been in the building since 2012. I went to school here. I grew up here. I’ve moved back into town. This is my home.

“I bleed blue and gold, and I’d rather be nowhere else than Lemont High School as the head football coach. I’m extremely excited and ready to go.”

Kooi, an Illinois High School Football Coaches Association Hall of Fame inductee, led Lemont to an 82-18 record in nine seasons. Lemont went 12-1 last fall and reached the Class 6A semifinals, losing 32-29 to eventual champion East St. Louis.

Kooi thinks Lemont has found the perfect person to replace him.

“It was a great decision for the school, and I think it’s great for Willie,” Kooi said. “I know it’s something he’s dreamed about ever since he’s been coaching and I’m so happy for him. I think it’s very well deserved.”

Hayes was a three-year starter at linebacker for Lemont from 2005 to 2007 and was the Suburban Prairie East’s defensive player of the year in 2005.

He then was a three-year starter at North Central College, where he studied physical education and began to think more about coaching at Lemont.

“I had a great experience at North Central under a great staff who taught me a lot,” Hayes said. “As soon as I got out, I tried to get my foot back in the door at my high school because it’s home.”

When Hayes returned to Lemont, he spent two seasons as an assistant under his former coach, Eric Michaelsen, another IHSFCA Hall of Famer. He then joined Kooi’s staff and was the defensive coordinator for the last five seasons.

“Talk about two guys to learn from,” Hayes said of Michaelsen and Kooi. “I’m extremely lucky. I’m going to continue to reach out to them and go to them for advice. The biggest thing I took away from them is the passion and enthusiasm they have for Lemont football.

“The effort they put in to make sure they’re doing what’s best for our kids and our program, that’s something I’m going to continue to do and hang my hat on.”

Kooi used one of the same words to describe Hayes’ best attribute — passion.

“When he was an assistant coach, that passion came out every day and I think that’s what the kids love about him, among other things,” Kooi said. “The kids just feed off him. It’s extremely exciting. Without a doubt, Willie brings that out of the kids.”

Hayes plans for Lemont to play with that same excitement he has for the game.

“I want our kids to be disciplined, be physical and have fun,” he said. “That’s the No. 1 thing. You’ve got to have fun. If you’re going to be putting in the work year-round, being in the weight room, doing offseason work and then in-season stuff, you have to love the game. I want guys that absolutely fly around.

“I think you’re going to see a passionate football team in the fall and I think that can bring us a lot of wins down the road.”

Steve Millar is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.