Former Choctaw coach Bill Bays to become Edmond Memorial athletic director

Bill Bays has been coaching for 23 years, but he said deep down, he thought he would eventually move into an administrative role.

All he was looking for was the right spot. He’s found it. Bays has accepted the athletic director spot at Edmond Memorial after being unanimously approved by the Edmond School Board at the board’s meeting Monday night.

Bays had been the head football coach at Choctaw.

“This has absolutely nothing to do with wanting to leave Choctaw,” Bays said. “It’s a great staff there. I love the players, and I’ve loved what we were building, but this was too good of an opportunity to pass up.”

Bays will be replacing Mike Dela Garza, who is retiring at the end of this school year. Dela Garza is also going to be inducted into the Oklahoma Coaches Association’s Hall of Fame in July.

Edmond athletic director Mike Nunley said more than 40 people applied for the job. Bays wasn’t on his radar, but Nunley said he was impressed with Bays in the interview process.

“He had three going for him during the interviews,” Nunley said. “One, he has a great understanding and knowledge of the Edmond community. He is a man with a tremendous reputation of hard work and is respected by his peers. And lastly, he has a great passion for athletics and other activities.”

Bays has also coached at Moore and Edmond North, among other schools.

Bays will officially take over June 1 and said he will spend the next two months working with Dela Garza and getting more acquainted with the Memorial administration.

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Robert Przybylo, bprzybylo@opubco.com