A Legacy in Sports Journalism
Neil Hayes, a revered columnist and author, died at the age of 58 after a decades‑long battle with cancer. Colleagues, friends, and readers mourned the loss of a writer whose passion for sport was matched only by his zest for life.
Hayes’s most famous work, the best‑selling book 'When The Game Stands Tall', chronicled the 2002 season of De La Salle High School under coach Bob Ladouceur. The narrative, granted unrestricted access, later became a blockbuster movie that introduced the De La Salle dynasty to a national audience.
From 1991 to 2006 Hayes served as a columnist and sports reporter for the Contra Costa Times, later moving to Illinois where he contributed to the Chicago Sun‑Times. During his tenure he crossed paths with reporters such as Mike Wolcott, Jerry Micco, Steve Corkran, Matt Maiocco, Mike Lefkow, Ted Johnson and Mitch Stephens, forging friendships that extended beyond the newsroom.
His 2010 collaboration with Brian Murphy explored Tiger Woods’s freshman year at Stanford, showcasing Hayes’s versatility across sports. Throughout his career Hayes was known for his humor, his willingness to ask tough questions, and his ability to lift the spirit of every colleague, from his wife Charlee Hayes to his sons Nick Hayes and Riley Hayes, and his grandchildren Henry Hayes and Elliott Hayes.
Hayes is survived by his mother Marilyn Hayes, his brothers Matt Hayes and Dan Hayes, and his extended family including grandsons Henry Hayes and Elliott Hayes. A burial is scheduled for June 20 in Rochelle, Illinois, followed by a celebration of life the next day.
Beyond his publications, Hayes mentored a generation of writers, including Matt Maiocco, Mike Lefkow and colleague Naomi Burton, who credit his guidance for their own successes. His legacy endures in the stories he told, the doors he opened, and the indomitable spirit he instilled in the world of sports journalism.