Mike Ayers

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.

For the American ice hockey coach and player, see Mike Ayers (ice hockey).
Mike Ayers
Biographical details
Born (1948-05-26) May 26, 1948
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)

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] He holds the black belt in karate, and is an accomplished artist and fly fisherman.

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. As a Wofford coach he was passionate about his players being strong men and students and doing it “the right way”, and his players have succeeded as students and in life to an exceptional degree. He was, and is, the ultimate Short-haired Dog!

Head coaching record
Year Team Overall ConferenceStanding Bowl/playoffs TSN[3]#
East Tennessee State Buccaneers (Southern Conference) (1985–1987)
1985 East Tennessee State 0–10–10–79th
1986 East Tennessee State 6–54–34th
1987 East Tennessee State 5–62–57th
East Tennessee State: 11–21–16–15
Wofford Terriers (NCAA Division II independent) (1988–1994)
1988 Wofford 5–5
1989 Wofford 6–5
1990 Wofford 9–3L NCAA Division II First Round
1991 Wofford 9–3L 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 3–72–66th
1998 Wofford 4–73–5T–5th
1999 Wofford 6–55–32nd
2000 Wofford 7–45–33rd23
2001 Wofford 4–73–55th
2002 Wofford 9–36–2T–2nd14
2003 Wofford 12–28–01stL NCAA Division I-AA Semifinal3
2004 Wofford 8–34–3T–2nd18
2005 Wofford 6–53–4T–4th
2006 Wofford 7–45–23rd23
2007 Wofford 9–45–2T–1stL NCAA FCS Quarterfinal10
2008 Wofford 9–37–12ndL NCAA FCS First Round9
2009 Wofford 3–82–6T–7th
2010 Wofford 10–37–1T–1stL NCAA FCS Quarterfinal6
2011 Wofford 8–46–2T–2ndL NCAA FCS Second Round12
2012 Wofford 9–46–2T–1stL NCAA FCS Quarterfinal9
2013 Wofford 5–64–4T–4th
2014 Wofford 6–54–34th
2015 Wofford 5–63–4T–4th
2016 Wofford 10–46–2T–2ndL NCAA FCS Quarterfinal9
2017 Wofford 10–37–11stL NCAA FCS Quarterfinal6
Wofford: 207–139–199–61
Total:218–160–2
      National championship         Conference title         Conference division title or championship game berth

See also

References
  1. "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. Final poll standings are from The Sports Network Archived May 3, 2011, at the Wayback Machine.
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