Mike Ayers

For the American ice hockey coach and player, see Mike Ayers (ice hockey).

Mike Ayers
Biographical details
Born (1948-05-26) May 26, 1948 (age 76)
Georgetown, Kentucky, U.S.
Playing career
?Georgetown (KY)
Position(s)Linebacker, offensive tackle
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
1974Georgetown (KY) (assistant)
1975Georgetown (KY) (DC)
1976–1978Newberry (assistant)
1979Richmond (assistant)
1980–1982Wofford (assistant)
1983–1984East Tennessee State (DC)
1985–1987East Tennessee State
1988–2017Wofford
Head coaching record
Overall218–160–2
Tournaments8–8 (NCAA I-AA/FCS playoffs)
0–2 (NCAA D-II playoffs)
Accomplishments and honors
Championships
5 SoCon (2003, 2007, 2010, 2012, 2017)
Awards
Eddie Robinson Award (2003)
5× SoCon Coach of the Year (2000, 2002–2003, 2007, 2010)

Mike Ayers (born May 26, 1948)[1] is a former American football coach. He served as the head football coach at East Tennessee State University from 1985 to 1987 and Wofford College in Spartanburg, South Carolina from 1988 to 2017, compiling career college football coaching record of 218–160–2. Ayers' Wofford Terriers won five Southern Conference title, in 2003, 2007, 2010, 2012, and 2017.

Playing career

Ayers played linebacker and offensive tackle for the Tigers of Georgetown College. He also played for the baseball team and competed in gymnastics and wrestling.[1]

Coaching career

Ayers began his coaching career as a graduate assistant and defensive coordinator at Georgetown College in 1974 and 1975. He again performed the role of assistant during stops at Newberry College and the University of Richmond. In 1980, Ayers arrived at Wofford as defensive coordinator for the Terriers under head coach Buddy Sasser. Ayers followed Sasser to East Tennessee State University, where he resumed his role as defensive coordinator before taking over the head coaching position in 1985. Ayers was hired as the head coach of the Terriers in 1988 by athletic director Danny Morrison over a milkshake at Asheville's Biltmore Dairy Bar. Wofford moved up to NCAA Division I-AA in 1995 and joined the Southern Conference in 1997. Under Ayers, the Terriers claimed five Southern Conference football championships, in 2003, 2007, 2010, 2012, and 2017.[1] Ayers won the Eddie Robinson Award, given to the most outstanding FCS head coach, in 2003 after guiding the Terriers to a 12–2 record.[2]

Ayers announced his retirement from coaching on December 13, 2017, after his 30th season at Wofford. He is the longest-serving coach in Wofford history and has the most wins (207) in program history.

Personal life

He holds a black belt in karate, and is an accomplished sketch artist and fly fisherman. After retiring from coaching, he enrolled in art classes at Wofford in 2018.[3]

Head coaching record

Year Team Overall Conference Standing Bowl/playoffs TSN[4]#
East Tennessee State Buccaneers (Southern Conference) (1985–1987)
1985 East Tennessee State 0–10–1 0–7 9th
1986 East Tennessee State 6–5 4–3 4th
1987 East Tennessee State 5–6 2–5 7th
East Tennessee State: 11–21–1 6–15
Wofford Terriers (NCAA Division II independent) (1988–1994)
1988 Wofford 5–5
1989 Wofford 6–5
1990 Wofford 9–3 L NCAA Division II First Round
1991 Wofford 9–3 L NCAA Division II First Round
1992 Wofford 6–5
1993 Wofford 7–3–1
1994 Wofford 5–6
Wofford Terriers (NCAA Division I-AA independent) (1995–1996)
1995 Wofford 4–7
1996 Wofford 6–5
Wofford Terriers (Southern Conference) (1997–2017)
1997 Wofford 3–7 2–6 6th
1998 Wofford 4–7 3–5 T–5th
1999 Wofford 6–5 5–3 2nd
2000 Wofford 7–4 5–3 3rd 23
2001 Wofford 4–7 3–5 5th
2002 Wofford 9–3 6–2 T–2nd 14
2003 Wofford 12–2 8–0 1st L NCAA Division I-AA Semifinal 3
2004 Wofford 8–3 4–3 T–2nd 18
2005 Wofford 6–5 3–4 T–4th
2006 Wofford 7–4 5–2 3rd 23
2007 Wofford 9–4 5–2 T–1st L NCAA FCS Quarterfinal 10
2008 Wofford 9–3 7–1 2nd L NCAA FCS First Round 9
2009 Wofford 3–8 2–6 T–7th
2010 Wofford 10–3 7–1 T–1st L NCAA FCS Quarterfinal 6
2011 Wofford 8–4 6–2 T–2nd L NCAA FCS Second Round 12
2012 Wofford 9–4 6–2 T–1st L NCAA FCS Quarterfinal 9
2013 Wofford 5–6 4–4 T–4th
2014 Wofford 6–5 4–3 4th
2015 Wofford 5–6 3–4 T–4th
2016 Wofford 10–4 6–2 T–2nd L NCAA FCS Quarterfinal 9
2017 Wofford 10–3 7–1 1st L NCAA FCS Quarterfinal 6
Wofford: 207–139–1 99–61
Total: 218–160–2
      National championship         Conference title         Conference division title or championship game berth

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c "Mike Ayers: Head Coach". Wofford Athletics. Retrieved July 17, 2008.
  2. ^ "Mike Ayers wins 2003 Eddie Robinson Award". The Sports Network. Retrieved July 17, 2008.
  3. ^ Hembree, Mike (January 1, 2019). "From football to artwork". Wofford College. Retrieved September 23, 2024.
  4. ^ Final poll standings are from The Sports Network Archived May 3, 2011, at the Wayback Machine.