Northwestern High School is thrilled to announce the appointment of Sarah Hayes, CAA, as its new Athletic Director, effective June 2026. A proven leader and former professional athlete, Hayes brings an impressive track record of excellence at both the local and state levels to the Trojan athletic program.
Hayes joins Northwestern following a three-year tenure as Associate Commissioner of the South Carolina High School League (SCHSL), where she led operations for Basketball, Swim, and Lacrosse, while supporting statewide recruitment and training for officials.
Prior to the SCHSL, Hayes served as Athletic Director at Battery Creek High School (2019–2023), where she was named the 2021-22 Class AAA Athletic Director of the Year. During her time there, she spearheaded major facility upgrades, including a state-of-the-art weight room and stadium video scoreboard. Her background also includes five years as Battery Creek’s Head Girls’ Varsity Basketball Coach and several years teaching AP History and Geography.
An elite student-athlete, Hayes graduated from Brown University, where she was named Ivy League Player of the Year, Academic All-American, and led her team to a championship. She went on to play professionally in Germany for five years and later served as an Assistant Coach at Carnegie Mellon University.
Hayes holds a Master’s degree in Athletic Administration from Ohio University. She is a member of the Battery Creek Athletic Hall of Fame and will be inducted into the Brown University Athletic Hall of Fame this November.
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